Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly87. Francisco Silva
Francisco Silva is President and CEO of the California Primary Care Association, which represents over 1,300 nonprofit community health centers that serve close to 8 million Californians across the state. Most of them are located in low-income communities and service residents who rely on Medi-Cal to help pay for their care. But
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly72. Sue Parker
Breaking barriers isn’t new to Sue Parker, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly. In 2020, she became the first woman to ever hold that position in California, and previous to that she was the first female to be the Assistant Chief Clerk. Before that, she was the Assembly’s first female Reading Clerk.
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly46. Danny Curtin
The California Conference of Carpenters has long been a force in California’s housing squabbles, due in no small part to its Director of the last 30 years, Danny Curtin. The Carpenters spend a lot of money around the Capitol, but they often also occupy a unique, nuanced position on issues that puts
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly100. Becca Prowda
As chief protocol officer in the Newsom administration, Becca Prowda has the unique job of coordinating with the California Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that collects donations from businesses and private individuals to pay for the governor’s travel and other expenses, so it doesn’t cost taxpayers. She also coordinates with visiting dignitaries from
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly97. Marie Liu
It says a lot when someone who should know calls you “the Kip Lipper” of what you do, but that’s exactly how a lot of people see Marie Liu. For more than two decades, Liu was a policy consultant to leadership in both chambers, most recently as the top environmental policy advisor
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly92. Ashley Zavala
It was only a few years ago that we dubbed Zavala the “Oh Shit” reporter because a staffer told us that was their first thought if they stepped out of their office and saw her coming toward them with a camera and a microphone. That has apparently now become her moniker, one
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly48. Melanie Moreno
As staff director of the Senate Health Committee, Melanie Moreno has a hand in pretty much any health bill that lands in the Senate. Health care is always a huge issue in the Legislature, and lawmakers have long relied on her attention to the little details to get bills right. That sway
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly69. BearStar Strategies
One of the conundrums we run into every year is how to determine which one, two or three folks from a powerhouse organization to put on this list (also known as the Aaron Read & Associates Dilemma). Such is the case with Bearstar Strategies, which features three of the most powerful and
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly82. Yvonne Wheeler
Yvonne Wheeler is the first Black woman elected President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO (LA Fed), the second largest central labor body in the United States, with more than 300 affiliated unions representing more than 800,000 members. Wheeler also serves on the Executive Council of the California Labor
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly66. Soyla Fernandez
In 2004, Soyla Fernandez opened Fernández Government Solutions, one of the first lobbying firms in California owned and operated by a Latina. Her firm, now known as Fernandez Jensen Kimmelshue Government Affairs, is another one of the state’s major lobbying forces, with clients that include Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Edison, the Federated Indians of