No. 87: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100

87. Wendy Mitchell
Communications consultant Wendy Mitchell, a member of the California Coastal Commission, has strong ties to the Capitol and the politics and intricacies of state budgeting. She was a senior budget consultant in the Assembly, then served as chief of staff to former Sen. Denise Ducheny, the San Diego lawmaker who for years was the Senate point person for the budget.  Mitchell, a member of the board of the California League of Conservation Voters, was appointed to the Coastal Commission by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Dec. 31, 2010, in one of his final acts as governor. Mitchell is not a household name, but in state political circles she is well known and is viewed as aggressive and effective. Although much of the background of the February ouster of former Coastal Commission Charles Lester remains unknown, Commission sources say Mitchell played a significant role.

Updated August 25, 2016