No. 80 Ron Conway
For most of his career Ron Conway has been far better known in board rooms than in legislative offices, but with AI regulation all the rage right now in the Capitol, the so-called “super angel” of
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.81. Jay Dickenson
The Committees on Appropriations are where so many bills go to die. Each year scores of them go to the Suspense File, where their fate is determined almost exclusively in back rooms well out of sight of
Ace Smith, Juan Rodriguez and Sean Clegg. Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.64. The Bearstar Trio
A few years ago on this list we admittedly took the easy way out and decided not to try and choose from among the legendary campaign strategist Ace Smith and his intrepid colleagues Juan Rodriguez and
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 76 Jennifer Pierre
A newbie to this list, Pierre is hardly a neophyte when it comes to her role in California’s endlessly complex, often archaic and always political water system. Pierre is the General Manager for the State Water
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 60. Joe Cruz
There are political operatives that are in your face, and there are those who rarely speak but carry immense power. Joe Cruz is one of the latter. Cruz is the Executive Director of the California State
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 42 Toks Omishakin
Seriously, is there a more thankless job than being the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, especially now when it seems every highway in the state is undergoing a forever-and-a-day rebuild? People who commute probably
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 41. Steve Wertheim
This will be remembered as the year of the most significant CEQA reform in the law’s 55-year history, a tectonic shift that will long be credited to the work of Buffy Wicks, Scott Wiener and Gavin
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 21 Steve O’Mara
Steve O’Mara is another of those quiet folks who just gets things done behind the scenes. Some observers call him a “policy and political smarty pants,” though we doubt that is on his CV. A well-known
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 18 Kim Johnson
Following someone as substantial as Dr. Mark Ghaly as California’s Secretary of Health and Human Services is like being asked to pinch hit for Babe Ruth. It’s hard to find anyone around the Capitol community as
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 6 Dave Sapp
If suing the Trump administration was currency California wouldn’t have a budget deficit. When Gavin Newsom needs legal advice in his efforts to counter The Donald, he turns for guidance to his in-house lawyer, Legal Secretary