Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol Weekly.No. 68 Chris Patterson
For the entirety of his failed gubernatorial campaign, Tom Steyer talked regularly about utilities screwing over consumers and his plan to bring down utility rates by 25%. The focal point of that ire was PG&E (and
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. 29 Joe Cruz
Joseph Cruz will never be one of those folks who searches for the spotlight. The Executive Director of the California State Council of Laborers, the largest construction trade union in the state, Cruz lives by the
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 54 Toks Omishakin
Toks Omishakin is a very low profile person in a very high profile job. As Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency, he oversees eight state departments, boards and agencies totaling over 42,000 employees and manages
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 43. Steve Wertheim
A lot of folks claimed credit for last year’s CEQA reform, the first major changes in the law’s history. But insiders give copious credit to Steve Wertheim, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks’ top advisor on housing issues. Wertheim
Illustration by Chris Shary, Capitol WeeklyNo. 49 Steve O’Mara
There are behind the scenes players and then there are behind the scenes players like Steve O’Mara, Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. It’s unlikely Rivas listens to anyone more than his brother Rick
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