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Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Donna Lucas

Illustration by Chris Shary

36. Donna Lucas

Lucas Public Affairs, LPA, is a sort of one-stop-shopping destination for people wanting guidance on politics, strategic communications, digital communications, campaigns for office, design, and more. LPA’s 28-member staff includes people well-known in the Capitol community – Cassandra Pye and Nancy Heffernan, for starters. Founder Donna Lucas was a press handler during Gov. George Deukmejian’s successful gubernatorial effort, did a great job and never looked back. She later served as deputy chief of staff for strategic planning and initiatives for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and chief of staff to First Lady Maria Shriver, to whom she remains close. Donna Lucas has been on our list since its inception and has some of the deepest roots in the capitol that we know of: Her mother – also Donna – worked in the office of Sen. Earl Desmond, where she met future husband, AP reporter Joe Lipper. Her brother Kip Lipper (No. 11) is the Senate’s top enviro expert, and her husband Greg Lucas is California’s State Librarian. Top that.

Updated Aug. 15, 2023

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