Experts Expound: The best and worst jobs in California politics

While we all wait to see if former Vice President Kamala Harris will throw her hat into the ring to succeed soon-to-be termed-out Gov. Gavin Newsom, it’s a good time to pose a tangentially-related question to our esteemed panel of experts.

Question: What is the best job in California politics, elected or otherwise? Conversely, what is the worst?

“Not too long ago I would have said being one of the CARB Board Members was one of the best jobs in Sacramento. You got paid to think big and make real decisions that in theory impacted the entire world. Now it seems like it has morphed into the worst position. Policymaking is interesting and powerful. Implementation is difficult, tedious, time consuming and doesn’t grab the headlines unless the policies all falls apart.”

“I think the best job is Lt. Gov … all the pageantry, none of the guilt. Worst job … Director of CalTrans … every District Director makes their own rules and the Director in Sac gets blamed.”

“Best: Running an IE with a $300 million budget. One boss, lots of creative freedom. Worst: Press secretary for an Assemblymember who thinks every one of their bills should be front page news and warrants a press conference.”

“The best Job in California Politics? It’s being a political columnist. You get a front-row seat to the circus without having to ride any of the donkeys or elephants. You don’t have to kiss babies, shake hands, or pretend to enjoy rubber chicken at a fundraiser. You observe, write, and watch the consultants, lobbyists, and electeds panic every time your column drops. You’re the town crier with a laptop, and everyone’s listening, whether they admit it or not.

The worst job in California Politics? That’s a crowded field, but here are two:

Scheduler for a State Legislator: You’re the air traffic controller for ego, ambition, and last-minute committee meetings. Good luck telling a donor ‘no’ or a constituent ‘we’ll see’ without causing a minor meltdown.

Junior Policy Analyst (Committee or Agency):

You have a Master’s degree, a cubicle, and just finished writing a 70-page white paper no one will read. You know how the system works and how slow it moves, but your biggest power play is controlling who gets the next meeting invite.”

“Best job: Lt. Governor. Worst job: Speaker of the Assembly (worse than pro Tem because 2x the members).”

“The best job is Governor – you have significant power, lead the best state in the union, are instantly on a national stage.  And you don’t even have to live in Sacramento, apparently.

The worst is Insurance Commissioner.  An impossible job given how much of a crisis there is in the entire industry.  And it’s not even a good jumping off place for other statewide office.  No state insurance commissioner has gone on to higher office – Garamendi lost his race in 1994 for Governor, ending up in Congress, Dave Jones lost a race for AG, Steve Poizner lost his race for Governor, then even lost a race to return to the Insurance Commissioner position.”

“Attorney General is the best job.  You can get involved in virtually any issue you want and have the largest law firm in the state to make it happen.

Superintendent of Public Instruction has to be the worst job.  You get blamed for everything and have little authority to make any changes.  Heck, the incumbent has side hustles.”

“I’m not sure if it’s the best job, or if Greg Lucas just makes it look that way, but the California State Librarian seems like he is having a heck of a good time. Worst job at the moment has got to be TESLA’s lobbyist. Only good part would be the paycheck.”

“So many people who run for political office – whatever office that may be – say they do it to ‘give back.’

With this in mind, I think the best job in CA politics is local elected official – could be school board, community college board or city council.  This is the closest you ever get to turning your activism or ideology into direct assistance and connection to your constituents.  What a feeling of accomplishment when you can tangibly help people.

Worst job right now – CA Insurance Commissioner.  I don’t think I need to explain.”

“Best: Lt. governor. All of the title, none of the, well, anything. Worst: Comms Director for Karen Bass.”

“Best is State Senate or Assembly representing Sacramento. All the fun without the commute.

Worst is secretary of prisons (CDCR), overseeing a broken system that flip-flops between half-way attempts at reform and the failure of mass incarceration.”

“Perhaps the best political job in CA is actually in Washington, DC: US senator. Senators don’t have to manage, govern or administer anything, except their own DC and district offices. And with no term limits, they can stay forever — the last time an elected CA senator was defeated running for re-election was John Tunney in 1976, nearly 50 years ago. Plus, they get to go on exotic junkets. And speechify for 25 hours on the Senate floor from time to time.

The worst is possibly mayor of LA. The second-biggest city in the US contends with some impossible-to-solve problems (homelessness at the top of the list), natural disasters of biblical proportions, parts that look like a Third World country, and a City Council that operates more like the UN than a truly unified governing body, with all 15 members acting like they’re duke or duchess of their own little duchy — district — instead of representing the best interests of the city as a whole.”

“Best: Greg Lucas, State Librarian.

Worst: Ricardo Lara, State Insurance Commissioner.”

Our panel of experts: Elizabeth Ashford, Hector Barajas, A.G. Block, Barry Brokaw, Samantha Corbin, Jon Costantino, Richard Costigan, Tim Foster, Rex Frazier, John Howard, Fiona Hutton, Gale Kaufman, Steven Maviglio, Mike MeCey, Paul Mitchell, Barbara O’Connor, Jack Ohman, Kassy Perry, Matt Rexroad, Garry South, Paula Treat, Micah Weinberg, Bill Wong, Daniel Zingale