Illustration by Chris Shary81. Jack Ainsworth
Since the abrupt and contentious firing of former executive director Charles Lester last February, the Coastal Commission has been in transition. While the drama – and the year it took the commission to officially name Ainsworth as Lester’s successor – didn’t make for the most auspicious shift in power, Ainsworth is moving
Illustration by Chris Shary47. Henry Perea
Henry Perea handles West Coast Government Affairs for Chevron, which means he supervises the company’s lobbying efforts, which are extensive. Perea, a former lawmaker, is based in Sacramento, but his territory his vast and he is considered a significant power player in the capitol, where fossil-fuel producers aren’t always treated gently. Perea,
Illustration by Chris Shary46. Bill Wong
The pandemic has affected us all, but for Bill Wong, it’s been particularly difficult: Hate crimes targeting Asian Americans grew exponentially during COVID-19, and the trend appears to be continuing. Wong, who successfully worked on legislation to deal with the issue, is the Democrats’ top political strategist for the Asian American community, and
Illustration by Chris Shary70. Carrie Gordon
A savvy political veteran who keeps a low profile, Carrie Gordon is the chief strategy officer of the California Dental Association, a 27,000-member organization that ranks as one of the more effective trade groups in Sacramento. CDA’s success rests largely on Gordon’s shoulders as she’s played a critical role in achieving virtually
Illustration by Chris Shary7. Keely Bosler
Keely Bosler directs the Finance Department, and if you had to pick a year to hold the job, this might be it: Going into the latest fiscal year, the state had a $38 billion surplus, and as Humphrey Bogart said in The Maltese Falcon, “That’s a lot of dough.” It’s better to
Illustration by Chris Shary52. Michael Picker
Michael Picker is president of the California Public Utilities Commission, an enormously important regulator with authority over telecommunications, investor-owned utilities, natural gas entities, railroads, passenger transportation companies, and more. Picker, an appointee of Gov. Brown, has been on the job since 2014, and it’s been a turbulent period that included the aftermath and
Illustration by Chris Shary44. Michael Rubio
Michael Rubio is governmental affairs director at Chevron Corp., which means he heads the company’s lobbying effort. He’s not a lobbyist himself — that ended last year, according to the secretary of state — but he pushes the company’s legislative and policy goals in the Capitol. That’s a big deal. In a
Illustration by Chris Shary44. Michael Quigley
If there is a single focus at the California Alliance for Jobs, it is California’s infrastructure. And the person who pushes for that 24-7 is Michael Quigley, the executive director. The Alliance is a coalition of builders, laborers, engineers, unions and contractors, and the group had a good run over the past
Illustration by Chris Shary46. RoseAnn DeMoro
Once called “The Most Influential Woman You’ve Never Heard Of” by More magazine, RoseAnn DeMoro has now been heard of – and from. DeMoro generated headlines across the country for her clashes with Democrats as she spearheads an as-yet unsuccessful effort to establish single-payer health care in California. As executive director of National
Illustration by Chris Shary29. Carrie Cornwell
Carrie Cornwell is chief of staff to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and in the world of the Capitol that’s a big deal. Cornwell’s job, of course, is to manage the speaker’s staff. But she does a lot more than that: She is the point person for the speaker’s legislative program, pushing his