20 Comments - fan of cap fax - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 12:19 pm: Melissa Earles would be my choice for best Senate Leg. Assist. She’s sweet, oh-so-kind to all, a hard worker, and a great Mom when off the job. Melissa has had to put up with a lot and always does it with a smile! - been there - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 12:51 pm: I also agree with the Melissa Earles best LA. Anyone who cn put up with the traffic up in that office deserves the award!! She has a very pretty smile that brightens anyones day! - Spliff - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 12:58 pm: Robin Gragg in the senate presidents office. Dealing with the calls and people she deals with on a average session day would cause the normal person to be jaded. But not Robin. She gets through every day with a smile and her quick wit. - Doc - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 1:33 pm: Roseann in Senator Koehler’s office gets my vote. She is the best assistant in the Capitol. The Koehler office runs like a well oiled machine. Extremely organized, smart, funny, and always knows the answer to your questions. The 46th District is lucky to have her. - Majority of Me - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 1:42 pm: Cheryl Sakris with Senator Althoff’s office may be quietly working behind the scenes, but she was the reason that Illinois successfully hosted the NCSL conference this summer. She worked countless hours on behalf of the senator organizing all of the staff that volunteered for the conference from each caucus and other legislative agencies. She went above and beyond her duties for everyone and also worked every shift during the conference. Cheryl is the best! - Themistocles - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 1:43 pm: I don’t know whether district office staff count in this category (if not, they deserve their own!), but I wanted to nominate Shiva Mohsenzadeh, the chief of staff in Sen. Schoenberg’s district office, for the honor. She’s smart, hardworking, and effective–and will be missed once she leaves the Senate’s employment when Sen. Schoenberg retires. Whoever scoops her up will be fortunate indeed. - Give Me A Break - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 1:52 pm: Cheryl in Althoff’s office. Can find her Senator anywhere, anytime and is kind to everyone. - Bluefish - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 1:52 pm: I second the nomination of Cheryl Sakris. Keeping up with Sen. Althoff can be a challenge but Cheryl makes it look easy. - Yule - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 2:03 pm: Teresa Jones in Jacqui Collins’ office. Intelligent, always helpful and on top of things, with a great sense of humor that helps everybody get through the day. - winning - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 2:28 pm: There is no question- Roseann Visintin wins my vote. She needs to be cloned and given to all of the State Senators in Springfield. Not only is she a hard worker and a pleasure to be around, she actually enjoys her job. Her number one priority is to do all she can do to help ALL of the constituents in the 46th. No problem is too small or big for Roseann to handle; Senator Koehler and the residents of the 46th are fortunate to have such a caring person to advocate for them. - Dan Johnson - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 2:51 pm: I’m going with Tammi Zumwalt because she’s got to deal with me far too much for any reasonable person and she’s still relatively nice to me. Relatively. - So Neat - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 3:09 pm: Robin Gragg is the best!! Her personality says it all! She is so nice and outgoing and really makes everyone feel so welcome!! - Norseman - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 3:27 pm: Cheryl Sakris is always willing to help. I think Sen. Althoff would be lost without her. - Humble staffer - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 3:50 pm: Robin Gragg. Years ago when I started as a staffer in the senate minority robin was always able to answer questions and point me in the right direction. Even though I am a lobbyist now Robin is still there with a smile or her face answering my questions and everyone else’s. - Fortunate - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 4:22 pm: I agree with Roseann Visitine!!! She is so helpful to everyone and has given alot of LA’s a gift of her knowledge and experience. Without Roseann my ship would have sunk, I’m fortunate to know and love her! - Norseman - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 4:24 pm: Fd - Norseman - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 4:35 pm: ===- Norseman - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 4:24 pm: Fd === Oops don’t know where that came from. My android tablet gets a littly funky at times. - after much consideration - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 4:53 pm: It’s Michelle (Snyder) McAnarney. I’ve taken a lot of people through lobby days and Senator Hutchinson should be very proud of the kindness and courteousness her constituents (and everyone else) receive from her office. As we all know, the trained lobbyists often bully their way in and intimidate the little guy, intentionally or unintentionally. Michelle evens out the playing field and really helps people out and makes them feel welcome in their state house. There’s a lot for the little guy to navigate, and three word responses like “she’s in committee” don’t explain much. All the lobbyists love her too because shes bright and fun and there’s nothing wrong with that! - gator mcklusky - Friday, Dec 7, 12 @ 7:17 pm: Another vote or Roseann in Sen.Koehler’s office. She is all around great person and a pleasure to work with! She is the best in the Capitol. Always kind, witty, and knows all the issues. - JH - Saturday, Dec 8, 12 @ 11:11 am: Teresa Jones in Sen. Jacqui Collins’ office. She is so hard-working and kind. Sen. Collins is extremely conscientious and passionate about her work and that puts a lot in Teresa’s lap to execute - and she does it with a smile. 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