Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Robert Hertzberg

No. 10

Mention Bob Hertzberg to anyone in the Capitol and two things will usually come up: his penchant for doling out hugs and his ubiquitousness in almost every major Capitol negotiation going on for the last several years. From CEQA reform to AI regulation to his own housing bond initiative (on the ballot this year), to fill-in-the-blank, if there is a deal going down Hertzberg is probably right in the middle of it. In fact, the shorter list might be the deals he hasn’t helped broker. He has the ear of every legislative leader and wannabe leader, the business community, Big Labor, energy advocates, environmental groups and the governor’s office (Christine Aurre, No. 4 on this list, was his Legislative Director for three years when he was Senate Majority Leader). He is widely regarded as being a pragmatic, sensible voice of reason and unapologetic truth-teller, especially toward those who prefer only hearing what they want to hear. The bottom line is he gets things done. Hertzberg previously served in both the Senate, where he was Majority Leader, and the Assembly, where he was Speaker.

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