No. 10: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100

10. Bill Devine

Bill Devine has been a vice president at AT&T since 2006, which means he’s the commander of the utility’s political forces and resources in Sacramento. He is a familiar face in the Capitol, especially when telecommunications measures are on the table, such as last year’s net neutrality bills prohibiting companies like AT&T from speeding delivery of some websites and choking back others. He has been described in the media as an AT&T lobbyist, but he’s not: As head of the AT&T’s legislative affairs unit, Devine runs the troops who advance AT&T’s interests in the Capitol, which includes functioning as a major donor in California politics and as the lead sponsor of the annual Speaker’s Cup at Pebble Beach, an iconic golfing event and the largest legislative fundraiser of the year.

Updated Aug. 21, 2o19