No. 45: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100

45. Nettie Sabelhaus
It’s hard to characterize Nettie Sabelhaus, who is sort of a utility infielder in the “Horseshoe,” the governor’s executive offices in the Capitol. When she worked in the Senate, she vetted appointees for the Rules Committee, one of the most sensitive jobs in the Senate, for 13 years. Her job title now is “special adviser to the governor on appointments.” That means she does appointees, of course, but personnel in the Horseshoe also may have specific policy areas, and Nettie’s include prison issues. People who should know say Sabelhaus makes significant decisions involving corrections – a surprise to us – and that her influence goes far beyond appointments. Sabelhaus’ political resume is solid: She served the late U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston as a legislative aide, coordinated the Senate Fellows Program for seven years and served as deputy director of the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State.

Updated Aug. 25, 2015