Experts Expound

Buenos dias: an inquiry para ustedes: Republican or Democrat, who are the emerging stars in the Legislature’s freshman class?

Buon giorno, Giovanni. Nessuno e degno un sacco di merde.

Alex Padilla in the Senate and Mark DeSaulnier in the Assembly.

Jared Huffman on the Dem side. On the Rep side: Does it really matter?
This is like asking who is the tallest jockey at Hollywood Park.

It’s March. It’s fortunate to see that most of them have been able to find the Assembly floor twice a week.

Dems have the cream of the crop. Kevin De Leon is already moving out of the speaker’s shadow, Fiona Ma is an Energizer Bunny, Jim Beall and Mike Feuer know their stuff, Sandre Swanson and Curren Price are playing key leadership roles, and Jared Huffman is filling Fran Pavley’s shoes quite well. On the GOP side, Jean Fuller is proving quietly effective.

There are none. Really.

Jean Fuller. She’s bright, friendly and very hard working.

Of the new legislators I’ve had a chance to meet, I was impressed by Mary Salas, Laura Richardson and Jean Fuller.

Cameron Smyth is clearly the star of the Republican class. He is hard working, understands the issues and is poised to be the major Republican player in Sacramento for the next six years.

Beall, Ma, Portantino and DeLeon

Ted Gaines and Martin Garrick on the Assembly Republican side. Kevin De Leon is the Democrat to watch. He knows how to build alliances and is a skilled operator. Alex Padilla is viewed by many as the next Senate pro tem.

The people from whom we sought opinions: Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Roy Behr, Don Wilcox, Jon Fleischman, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Dan Schnur, Jason Kinney, Tom Kise, Karen Hanretty, Kevin Spillane, Michael Houston, Adam Mendelsohn, Matt Ross, Sam Delson, Mike Madrid, Morgan Crinklaw, Dave Lesher, Richard Zeiger, Mike Madrid, Margita Thompson, Ralph Simoni, Bob Hertzberg, Scott Baugh, Steve Maviglio, Tony Quinn, Peter DeMarco, Adam Probolsky, Barbara O’Connor, Jack Pitney.