56 Comments - Spliff - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:39 pm: Giovanni Randazzo, knows what he is doing as well as what everyone else is trying to do. Yet he still has time to stop and explain it all of the rest of us along with a bit of senate history. He will more than adequately fill Madiar’s shoes! - Georgia - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:44 pm: He is a guy that goes out of his way to get the job done and is very thorough. Such a friendly guy. - Georgia - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:46 pm: Correction: Mark Jarmer - He is a guy that goes out of his way to get the job done and is very thorough. Such a friendly guy. - Cindy - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:47 pm: Mark Jarmer: Hardest worker in the Capitol Complex (except for me). Shows respect for peers. Sharp, quick, accurate in all aspects of his duties. Completes projects in a timely manner. Takes job seriously, but is fun too. - Give Me A Break - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:50 pm: Clayton Klenke from House GOP can’t be beat. The man apparently does not sleep. He knows the budgets of the largest agencies and can answer almost any questions about budget making. He returns calls quickly even on his days off and works well with GOP and Dem members and staffers. If you want an answer from the House GOP, call Clayton. - O'Doyle Rules! - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:55 pm: Best House Staffer- Mark Jarmer. Mark Jarmer is a staple to the HDEM Staff. He is a veteran. Yes he is an actual veteran, but also a veteran staffer. He has to deal with some difficult subject matters that are always controversial, but he handles each issue with integrity and professionalism. He offers guidance to new staff, just trying to navigate the insanity that is our job. He is a clear leader and one of the most trusted employees of the Speaker. He is also just a great guy to work with. Always in a good mood, always there to offer advice or a kind word. There are not enough good things to say about Mark. Best Senate Staffer- Mike Hoffman. Man did he have some rough issues this year. People only have good things to say about Mike. - Paper Mam - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:55 pm: Best State House Staffer: Mark Jarmer. A family man, teacher, veteran, and friend. - AlabamaShake - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:56 pm: ** Best State Senate Staffer - Non Political ** Mike Welton on Senate Dems. He has quietly become one of the best staffers in the building, responsible for the insanity that is the Medicaid budget. He’s very smart and talented, learns new issues quickly. He’s also very willing to ask questions. We need more staff like Welton. ** Best State House Staffer - Non Political** Shawn McGrady on House GOP. Shawn has a very difficult (i.e. crazy) caucus to navigate, but Shawn does great work to keep them from going completely off the rails on health and human services issues. He’s smart and knowledgable, and an all around good dude. - In the House - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 1:56 pm: House - Mark Jarmer - Works on complex issues such as Higher Education appropriations and JCAR. He’s a great guy all around, and one of the hardest workers you’ll find in the Capitol. Senate - Maurice Scholten - Does great work on both revenue and pensions, enough said. - pick me - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:04 pm: Senate: I’d give it Maurice Scholten. The guy knows his stuff. From financial matters to pensions, he knows how to break down complex material and is happy to spend time explaining things. Plus he’s a really nice guy. House: Justin Cox. There are few who work harder or longer hours than this guy. If it’s a big issue his fingerprints are all over it. - Because I said so..... - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:07 pm: I will echo Mark Jarmer. Very hard working and fair. - Velvet Corkscrew - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:08 pm: Best Senate Staffer: Michael Welton. He is one of the best staffers I have ever worked with, if not the best. He is intelligent, hard working, passionate, professional, and able to see the forest through the trees. He is capable of handling both complex issues and large personalities. The senate is truly lucky to have him. - HappyHippie - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:10 pm: Mark Jarmer is an outstanding staffer with an amazing work ethic. He is always willing to put in the extra effort and to help anyone who asks for assistance. He not only provides fantastic work, but also manages to have the best attitude of anyone I know. - Name/Nickname/Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:10 pm: Senate Staffer- After handling Sen. Manar’s SB 16, not sure how Mike Hoffmann doesn’t win this year. Not just working through the policy and the players, but coordinating the hearings involved as well. For House, I would suggest Luis Andrade and Ben Lazare. They have aggressively worked to educate themselves on policy while in the middle of Medicaid negotiations. These two have used their time wisely learning from both David Ellis and Sam Olds. - VotingIsAwesome - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:11 pm: Jennifer Baedder on the House Dem staff. She is one of the nicest, smartest, hardest working people in the Capitol. Members know she will give her all to each of their projects, lobbyist know she’ll listen and return calls, and staff know they can trust her. She hasn’t been around here that long, but work on a bill with her and you’ll learn a lot. She’s a rising star. - VotingIsAwesome - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:13 pm: Forgot my senate nominee: Giovanni Randazzo. Always thoughtful and willing to help. He’s the man! - Sportsfans - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:19 pm: Senate staffer is Kristin Richards. Hands down, one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met. I’ve known her since she was a Dunn fellow, and her ascent is as deserved the best who have ever served. She is a class act. House staffer has to be Jarmer. Solid guy — squared away and professional. - Lord of the Manor - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:20 pm: House: Mark Jarmer- Truly a man of integrity, insight and strong character. He is respected by his peers and looked to for advice and support. The House Dem’s would not be the same without him. Without a doubt in my mind Mark Jarmer has earned the Golden Horseshoe. Senate: Mike Hoffman- Very hardworking this past year and people have nothing but nice things to say about Mike. - WuTangClam - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:22 pm: Mark Jarmer on House Dem staff is a clear leader on the 5th floor. Jarmer is earnest, tactful, and extraordinarily knowledgeable. Mark always goes the extra mile–benefiting his staff and the State. - St. Nick's - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:26 pm: Senate Mike Hoffman- Did a great job of handling SB 16 and is one of the most knowledgeable Senate staffers. House Mark Jarmer- True professional. Whether it is working on complicated issues, navigating the JCAR process, or putting in extra work with new staffers Mark always gives 110%. He should be considered the model of what legislative staff should strive for. - 1776 - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:26 pm: This one’s easy: In the House, there is a tie between Justin Cox (House Dems) and Laura Roch (House GOP). These two staff spent hundreds of hours working the fracking bill and helping negotiate between enviros, business, labor, AG, and Farm Bureau to get the bill passed last year. And then, they had to spent another hundred hours over the last three months working with JCAR staff and stakeholders to get the rules done. - Regal Beagle - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:28 pm: J.igglyC.rustA.lmondR.adish–is not what JCAR stands for. H.Dems thank Mark Jarmer - Under Influenced - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:30 pm: Senate staffer: Giovanni Randazzo. Not many people arrive as early or stay as late as Gio. Simply put, he works his tail off. Manages two of the most time consuming and challenging committees, is always willing to work on a member’s project (usually because nobody else wants to) and has the institutional knowledge to help in almost any situation. - Ron Mexico - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:31 pm: Best House Staffer would have to be Mark Jarmer. Works tirelessly on complicated issues, and is always in a good mood and willing to help anybody who needs it. - Curly Q - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:33 pm: House Staffer-Mark Jarmer, hands down. He has a wonderful work ethic and is brilliant beyond words. Jarmer is detail-oriented, sharp, and never fails to provide assistance to others. He puts forth 110% effort in everything. Jarmer is also a trust-worthy leader with lots of integrity. Higher Education and JCAR committees are not for the faint-hearted. - Xavier Woods - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:35 pm: House: Mark Jarmer- Mark is one of the smartest and hardworking staffers in the capitol building. He is extremely knowledge on both appropriations and substantive issues and is always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Mark understands the realities of life in the capitol and handles all situations with grace and presence. An Army veteran as well, he is one of the speakers most trusted staffers. Senate: Mike Welton. Very knowledgeable, and always willing to help. This guy is sharp. - Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:43 pm: Giovanni Randazzo - Hands down. The guy never sleeps and he never forgets anything!!! - Miss Marie - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:51 pm: Caitlyn McEvoy on the Senate Dems is an incredibly hard worker. She’s so quiet and sweet, and she is constantly working hard on a number of issues. - scandalous and glamorous - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:53 pm: house Research-Mark. Jarmer because his chair is Dunkin. House legal-Cox is the man with the plan senate Research-Becky Locker Senate legal-Giovanni - Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 2:54 pm: Giovanni Randozzo. -always the person to go to when you have a question. Extremely knowledgeable and professional! - Bobcat Sympathizer - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:05 pm: I agree with scandalous. Mark does deserve it for working with Dunkin. On that note, Derek Stevens from the Senate Dems, deserves it, too. He’s very knowledgeable on his topics and he’s a hard worker. You can tell he works a lot of late nights. - 11B - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:06 pm: House Staffer Mark Jarmer - He has handled Appropriations Higher Ed for a number of years with poise and professionalism. The guy gets things done. He takes younger staffers under his wing. He’s a former army staff SGT and a natural leader. - Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:09 pm: House: Mark Jarmer - Not only does he know his issues inside and out, but as the JCAR staffer, her has to know EVERY issue that comes up. Very impressive. Senate: Tim Nuding - I’m not sure if he qualifies anymore, but if he does, he should be the clear winner. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:24 pm: I was going to nominate Becky Locker with the SenDems. She carried Kotowski and Steans and a baby this year. But in the end my vote goes to Mike Hoffman on Senate Dem policy staff. Let’s consider a normal day in his life: He’s a key mechanic on Manar’s education funding overhaul, he’s helping Lightford battle charter school management while negotiating how to resolve racial disparities in public school expulsion and suspension polices and then, just for fun, he gets to staff Delgado and the Senate Education Committee. It’s quite possible Hoffman has a couple clones just to keep up. - The Muse - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:28 pm: Senate Staff: Giovannia Randazzo has always been a reliable man in my book for many years. He deserves this year. Runner-up: Maurice Scholten - pension guru and he’s a heck of a guy. House Staff: I’m with the chorus of other Jarmer supporters. You have to respect the man for his professional demeanor and the stellar work he puts out in committee. - circular firing squad - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 3:41 pm: Jarmer seems headed to be a runaway … shows voters know their stuff Senate GOPs will get fat agency jobs so skip them Let’s go with John Patterson…good sense of humor Makes Forby sound like a poet - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:03 pm: House: I couldn’t decide between the House Clerk and the Chief of Staff for the Speaker, so I will go with Tim Mapes. Senate: He hasn’t officially left yet, and I think the award goes again to Madiar. It is no overstatement to say that his legal briefing on pensions profoundly shaped the politics of the recent past and likely will shape the state budget for decades. The filing on behalf of members of the state’s public pension system could be entitled “What Eric Said”. - Fan of Cap Fax - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:06 pm: Got to go with Mike Hoffman for the Senate. You couldn’t find a nicer guy to know and/or work with! I like Tim Mapes for the House, too. - T-swizzle shake, shake, shake it off - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:17 pm: I’m surprised Ian Watts hasn’t been nominated for Senate Dem Staff yet. He’s a really hard worker. He takes his job seriously and is a good writer. - T-swizzle shake, shake, shake it off - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:21 pm: Oh I forgot the House. I second John Hollman. He’s a hard worker! - LaFlare1017 - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:43 pm: Gio! Love this guy. - Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:45 pm: For house I’d think it would have to go to Justin Cox or Bret Bender (both on the speaker’s tech review staff). They put in a ridiculous number of manhours and really pour their heart into their projects. Both would be extremely deserving - Capitol Guy - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:46 pm: In the spirit of bipartisanship, I’m a big fan of both Justin Cox (House Dems) and Laura Roche (House GOP). Justin is super smart and well-respected for his even hand on a number of high-profile issues for the Speaker’s legal staff. Laura R has become a jack of all trades on Durkin’s staff. It’s clear from watching her work in committee and on the floor that she has the trust of her own members and the respect of members on the other side of the aisle too. Two solid people. - Bets - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:51 pm: Senate Staff: Mike Hoffmann Mike has handled a ton of hot issues with such composure this year especially SB16 and school discipline. He knows his stuff, from budget lines to bill text, and can breakdown a complex topic in a flash. He manages the personalities and clashing stakeholders that come along with the Senate Education Committee with ease. Bottom line - Mike is an all around great guy that his colleagues and members can always count on. - Skeptic Tank - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 4:55 pm: Senate: Madiar- Absolutely brilliant, but also a regular guy who can hold a conversation about baseball while eating a chicken salad sandwich at the Food Mart. House: Agreed, Jarmer. The Jeter of House staff. Fields all the routine grounders like a pro, makes the difficult plays look easy, and makes management look smart. - Anonymous Commenter #261 - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 6:00 pm: More on Katherine Eastvold: She also does an incredible job of bridging the gap between state-level and local-level politics. It’s not every person who can run a campaign for local office during a spring session and come within a vote of winning while giving top-flight service to more than 1 senator with statewide ambitions. Not to mention her grassroots work on education funding. - Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 7:56 pm: Maurice Scholten for Best Senate Staffer- He’s super smart and approachable at the same time. He’s able to explain extremely complicated issues like pensions, taxes and anything else you need in the simplest terms. Maurice could breakdown pension reform so a 6 year old could get it. Overall great guy who definitely deserves the horseshoe. - Jerry - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 8:25 pm: John Hollman without a doubt. I can’t say enough good things about him. There are a lot of good house dem choices, but he’s simply the best. I remember when I first started at the Capitol asking him his opinion of what my position on bills should be. He’s a wealth of knowledge and great guy. John Hollman has my vote! - Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 8:39 pm: Senate Staff: Mike Hoffman House Staff: Heather Weir Vaught Two of the best! - Anonymous 44 - Thursday, Dec 4, 14 @ 8:55 pm: Senate Staffer Non-Political: Mike Hoffman. SB 16–enough said. He wrote the bill and its just a matter of time until Manar gets it passed and Hoffman will have been a very big part of the final product. House Staffer Non-Political: John Hollman. He’s smart, great with just about any issue that comes his way, and works with just about every member. - Spfld Fire - Friday, Dec 5, 14 @ 7:11 am: Senate: Giovanni Randazzo, he’s a consistent hard worker and producer. He has his fingers in most of the big issues and now that he is Chief will be even more involved. He is well regarded among his members and is active on the political side. He’s a good family man who you can have a drink with and how cool is that he has a pizza named after him. House: Bret Bender, from medical marjoram to election law to procurement and any other Jack Frank’s state government issue Bender is the guy. - anonymous - Friday, Dec 5, 14 @ 9:11 am: It’s really hard to nominate just two, but on the House side, I’m going to go with Shawn McGady. He is very patient, thorough and accessible. Always important in a staffer! For the Senate, I’m nominating Nia Hassan. She has forgotten more about her issues than most people in the Capitol will ever know. And again, accessible - always answers emails and calls. - boss - Friday, Dec 5, 14 @ 9:18 am: my vote is for Gio! He’s the best!! for house I’ll go with Heather! - ??? - Friday, Dec 5, 14 @ 9:34 am: @anonymous (9:11) - “[Nia Hassan] has forgotten more about her issues than most people in the Capitol will ever know.” Huh? Doesn’t exactly sound like a ringing endorsement. lol - Larry - Friday, Dec 5, 14 @ 9:44 am: Gio started out of law school in the Senate political office under Emil and earned his way onto staff and has proven everyday he has been there that he was a great choice. Ten years under four different chiefs of staff and two senate Presidents … enough said! - Tickle - Friday, Dec 5, 14 @ 9:59 am: Jarmer, for reasons above. What’s up next, legislators? Interns? Lobbyists? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.