Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Erika Contreras

32. Erika Contreras

As the secretary of the Senate, Erika Contreras serves as the non-partisan, chief administrator and parliamentarian of California’s upper legislative house. Contreras is the first Latina to ever hold the office and the first woman in the job in a century. She oversees more than 150 Capitol aides, yet is virtually unknown outside of the Capitol. But those inside the building know she is absolutely critical to the functioning of the legislature. For one, she oversees HR, operations, facilities, floor session politics, and as one longtime staffer notes, keeps lawmakers from sticking their fingers into light sockets. Contreras also has done much to modernize the Senate staff with an eye toward diversity and equity, and is lauded by virtually everyone for her professionalism, work ethic and humanity. It’s worth noting that she had a new Pro Tem to break in this year and will have at least a dozen new members in the next session. Born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, but raised in the San Fernando Valley, Contreras has worked in the Capitol since 2003 and was appointed Senate secretary in 2018.

Updated Aug. 7, 2024