14 Comments » - Watching - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:11 am: If you have a big issue as well as many smaller issues, the go to lobbyist has become Marc Poulos. He is omnipresent in the Capitol and an energy level that is unmatched. He and Dave Sullivan are the best team in the building. Their accomplishments are unmatched. Marc is the clear choice. For in house, I will go to the biz community and nominate Mark Denzler. He represents the IMA so very well. - For the little guys - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:12 am: Best Contract Lobbyist: Dave Lowitzki Dave is always hustling for his portfolio of social service organizations. He always has his finger on the pulse of the Capitol and seems to be everywhere at once. Best In-House Lobbyist: Niyah Kelly Niyah might be the hardest working lobbyist in Springfield. She is often the first lobbyist at the railing and the last to leave, building lasting relationships with legislators from both sides of the aisle. She is a natural builder, always looking for ways to build connections between organizations. She also is generous with her knowledge and experience, helping newer legislators (like myself) get calibrated with the ways things work in the Capitol. - Uncle Merkin - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:24 am: No contract lobbyist had a more impactful year than Marc Poulos. From finding a solution to transit that also created a multi-billion-dollar capital plan at the Tollway, to energy, to pushing Medical Aid in Dying across the finish line, he was a force this year. Couple that with the fact that he is as good a guy to the people across the table from him as the ones on the same side, and there is nobody better down there. Poulos and Sullivan are doing things the right way. For in-house, Michael Henry at ComEd is knowledgeable, reliable, and a good guy to work with. He did well for ComEd this year. - Broken Heart - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:36 am: With all due respect to Marc Poulos, we just lost an amazing contract lobbyist in Gerry Reyes. He worked tirelessly for his clients for over 30 years. Represented an array of clients from representing the City of Chicago, to the Cook County States Attorney, to PHRMA, to Ameren and dozens in between. He was always available to mentor other lobbyists and staffers and he was a great friend to many. Gerry tragically lost his life in an accident yesterday and leaves behind his three children Christian, Chloe, and Eva Luna and his wife Susana. I’d like to see some support here for Gerry from all his friends. - Prayers - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:41 am: Prayers for Jerry and his family. So tragic. He was a great guy. - Southside Markie - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:43 am: Contract Lobbyist: Bill Filan. Doesn’t always get his due because he’s a work horse, not a show horse. He’s the consummate professional and the consummate gentleman. He delivers by having the unique ability to be both tenacious and courtly at the same time. In-House Lobbyist: Dave Feller from the Cook County Sheriff. Another work horse. He does a great job making sure that a lot of not-so-flashy legislation reflects the Sheriff Office’s day-to-day operational needs. His effectiveness comes from his being an all around good, reasonable person. - Former suburbanite - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:51 am: Best contract lobbyist: John Amdor. He’s incredibly committed to the causes he lobbies for, with the public good at heart. He builds strong relationships and is a fixture in Springfield, always bringing a positive spirit to the Capitol. Best in-house lobbyist: Nick Boyle. Nick is an incredibly hard worker and built relationships on both sides of the aisle to successfully negotiate and lobby Dignity in Pay, a bill that proved controversial and complicated at times. Nick is super passionate about disability justice and has staked out difficult positions with poise and integrity. We need more advocates like Nick whose heart are truly in it. - Mike Wazowski - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:56 am: In-House: Keenan Irish with the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. He’s really made them a true player in the business community at the capital, as well as just being a upstanding guy. Contract: Aaron Holmes. His first year in this position showed that he is very effective in any role he’s in! - Suburbs - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 11:58 am: Dave Feller is a great choice. He works hard and co hosts a great party. Marc Poulos is the choice this year. Every big issue had his key involvement. Transit would not have gotten done without Poulos and the Governor sitting down directly and negotiating it. He was the key to it. Energy needed his help. And his efforts to keep Hollywood rolling in Illinois was outstanding. And I’m sure he was instrumental on others. And his partner Sully is an all time best! - People’s Republic of Oak Park - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 12:00 pm: Contract- Poulos. Transit was no easy lift and the way he managed every interest group was a master class. Add the end of life, tollway capital funding, and generally fighting for labor he is a GOAT. I would go as far as to say the Golden Horse Shoe shouldn’t just go to him but be named after him in perpetuity. In-House- Adrienne Alexander. A staple in the statehouse but her work right now on the Chicago Budget is huge. She does the job of 4 people and does it better than anyone. - AnonyMau5 - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 12:33 pm: Best Contract Lobbyist: Shannon Miller Bellini. She has the know-how, experience, and connections that matter as a contract lobster. She is a friend to many in both chambers and both sides of the aisle. Shannon does an outstanding job representing the interests of her clients across a wide variety of issue areas. She is a hard-charging and relentless advocate for her clients as well as a trusted ally for legislators and lobbyists alike. And a wonderful dance mom and coach on top of it all! Best In-House Lobbyist: It has to go to your friend and mine, Scott Humbard. For decades now, Scott has been a leading voice on energy policy in Illinois and across the nation. From his time on staff working on dereg to his many years at Exelon and Constellation Energy, Scott has truly been the “Chairman of the Board.” IYKYK. Congratulations to Scott Humbard for his decades of service to Illinois and here’s to good friends, good bourbon, and good fishing. - Damien Kojan - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 12:48 pm: Bassem Kawar- In house lobbyist. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Given the moment we faced, Bassem and ICIRR members passed a slate of impressive victories in response to the attack our state faced. - Socially DIstant Watcher - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 1:05 pm: Point of clarification: do in-house lobbyists include liaisons? I thought that was a different category. - Rich Miller - Monday, Dec 15, 25 @ 1:06 pm: ===do in-house lobbyists include liaisons=== No TrackBack URI Anonymous commenters, uncivil comments, rumor-mongering, disinformation and profanity of any kind will be deleted. Name/Nickname - Required (required) E-mail - Not required (not required) URL - Not required