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
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
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
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).
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
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
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly50. Josh Fryday
Relatively unknown to many in the Capitol community, Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday is the man tasked with overseeing one of Gavin Newsom’s passion programs – California Volunteers. But that’s not all. Underneath that umbrella are also
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly61. Yana Garcia
Another newbie to the list, Yana Garcia is the first Latina to ever lead the California Environmental Protection Agency. A native of Oakland, Garcia lived in Mexico during the heyday of the North American Free Trade Agreement
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly95. Margie Estrada
Margie Estrada may or may not someday make it into the Capitol Weekly Top 100 Hall of Fame. But she has been compared to one of its newest members, the estimable Kip Lipper. Now that is some
Illustration by Chris Shary, for Capitol Weekly58. Doug Herman
What if you ran a mayoral campaign where your opponent burned through $100 million dollars, outspending your candidate by about 11 to one? Moreover, the strategist for the opposition is Ace Smith (no. 69), one of the