James Siva. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.52. James Siva
Siva is the vice chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the owners and operators of the towering Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa north of Palm Springs, and the chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming
Greg Totten. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.49. Greg Totten
As the CEO of the California District Attorneys Association, Greg Totten may be one of the most consequential names on this year’s list. The DAs, of course, have been on a mission to reform Proposition 47 and
Laiza Negrete. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.42. Laiza Negrete
For years Laiza Negrete has been content to mostly fly under the radar. But as the head of the California Association of Realtors political action committee and the organization’s top political strategist, she is without question a
Rachel Michelin. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.58. Rachel Michelin
When Rachel Michelin got to the California Retailers Association in 2019, it frankly was a mess. That is definitely not the case anymore. Michelin has steadied the organization, making it a force again in the Capitol. This
Christine Aurre. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.25. Christine Aurre
Christina Aurre is another of those folks inside the walls of Castle Gavin that serve any number of purposes, depending on the issue of the day. Previously a staffer for lawmakers Patrick O’Donnell and then-Senate Majority Leader
Myesha Jackson. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.32. Myesha Jackson
The Capitol might have more than its share of loud voices and shameless self-promoters, but the soft spoken and even-keeled Myesha Jackson, Policy Director for Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, is definitely neither of those. She is, however,
Jamie Callahan. Illustration by Chris Shary for Capitol Weekly.23. Jamie Callahan
Last time in this space we compared Senior Counselor and Deputy Chief of Staff Jamie Callahan – then a relative newbie in the enchanted land of Newsomworld – to a utility infielder for those great Yankees teams
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly95. Rebecca Wachsberg
Nobody would probably like to put “herder of the cats” on their resume, but as sources inside the Capitol told us, that could aptly describe one of the many vital things Rebecca Wachsberg does. Formally, she is
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly72. Sue Parker
Breaking barriers isn’t new to Sue Parker, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly. In 2020, she became the first woman to ever hold that position in California, and previous to that she was the first female to
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly97. Marie Liu
It says a lot when someone who should know calls you “the Kip Lipper” of what you do, but that’s exactly how a lot of people see Marie Liu. For more than two decades, Liu was a