Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly85. Michael Pimentel
Transportation was another sector seemingly doomed to be a budget casualty this year when Gov. Gavin Newsom froze $2.4 billion in state transportation funds in April. One problem: local transit agencies had already begun huge projects based on expectations of getting those funds as part of a $5.1 billion transportation funding deal
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly33. Lia Lopez
As the chief administrative officer for the Assembly Rules Committee, Lia Lopez is one of the most important cogs in the machinery of the legislature. Her committee effectively runs the Assembly by not only overseeing the chamber’s administrative business but by also assigning bills to other committees, and this capitol veteran is
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly46. Mary Kennedy
If you’re looking for legislative drama, nothing beats the public safety committees, with their high-profile votes on drugs and crime. But while the hearings in the Assembly are often contentious and/or dysfunctional, there’s no such drama on the Senate side and that seems to be due in large part to Mary Kennedy,
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly44. Mark McKenzie
Mark McKenzie, the staff director for the Senate Appropriations Committee, is a veritable Capitol institution at this point. He’s in his 20th year with the Senate Committee on Appropriations and has been staff director since 2012. He’s on his eighth committee chair and is working under his fourth Pro Tem, (Too many
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Today we welcome CalMatters’ new editor in chief, Kristen Go, who joined the newsroom at the end of May. We asked her about her vision for CalMatters, how the nonprofit news model stacks up against traditional media, and about AB 886, Asm. Buffy Wicks’ proposal to force tech giants to fund reporting.
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly30. Lindsey Cobia
Lindsey Cobia has been described as Gov. Newsom’s “Swiss army knife,” involved in basically all manner of political decisions the governor makes. But as Newsom this year took on an even bigger national profile, her role as the executive director of the governor’s Campaign for Democracy PAC may have made her even
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly28. Viviana Becerra
Viviana Becerra, Attorney General Rob Bonta’s chief of staff, effectively runs the California Department of Justice. In her role, she oversees the Office of Communications, Office of Native American Affairs, Office of External Affairs, Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement Team, and the Office of Legislative Affairs. Oh and she’s also the AG’s
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly19. Liz Snow
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas has surrounded himself with several top-notch advisors, but perhaps no one is more important to his day-in and day-out success than his chief of staff, Liz Snow. Known for her level head and steady approach, Snow draws upon a deep reserve of political experience, having served as president
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly14. Rick Rivas
The younger brother of Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Rick Rivas is widely regarded as the power behind the throne in the lower house. While Rick draws a salary as a vice president with the American Beverage Association, he has his considerable clout because he is the Speaker’s closest confidant, weighing in on
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly10. Gayle Miller
This is Gayle Miller’s first time on the Top 100 list, but she is hardly a newbie to the Capitol. Miller has served numerous posts around the building, dating back to her days as a staffer with former Senate pro Tem John Burton. Much of that duty has been in the Senate,