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* Here are our 2012 Golden Horseshoe Award winners, with runners up in parentheses…
* The Wordslinger Golden Horseshoe Award for Best CapitolFax.com Commenter: Oswego Willy (Michelle Flaherty)
* The Mike McClain Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Statehouse Insider: Mike McClain
* Best Statewide Officeholder: Auditor General Bill Holland (Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka)
* Best “Do-Gooder” Lobbyist: Bruce Simon (Kathy Drea)
* Best Contract Lobbyist: Tom Cullen (Ed Peck)
* Best In-House Lobbyist: Rob Karr (Mark Denzler)
* Best Legislative Liaison: Bresha Brewer (Cameron Schilling)
* Best Illinois Congresscritter: US Sen. Dick Durbin (Congressman Bob Dold)
* Best State Agency Director: Malcom Weems (Amy Martin)
* The Mark Beaubien Lifetime Service award for the Illinois House: Rep. Skip Saviano, Rep. Joe Lyons (tie)
* The John Millner Lifetime Service award for the Illinois Senate: Sen. Susan Garrett (Sen. Tom Johnson)
* Best Illinois State Senator - Republican: Sen. Matt Murphy (Sen. Pam Althoff)
* Best Illinois State Senator - Democrat: Sen. Don Harmon (Sen. Dan Kotowski)
* Best Illinois State Representative - Republican: Rep. Jim Durkin (Rep. David Harris)
* Best Illinois State Representative - Democrat: Rep. Elaine Nekritz (Rep. Greg Harris)
* The Steve Brown Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Government Spokesperson: Joe Tybor (John Patterson)
* Best legislative campaign staff director: Will Cousineau (Brendan O’Sullivan)
* Best campaign staffer - Illinois House Democrats: Shaw Decremer, Kristen Bauer (tie)
* Best campaign staffer - Illinois House Republicans: Bob Stefanski (Nick Bellini)
* Best campaign staffer - Senate Democrats: Jill Dykhoff (Sam Strain)
* Best campaign staffer - Senate Republicans: Helen Albert (Rachel Bold)
* Best State Senate Staffer - Non Political: Giovanni Randazzo (Kim Schultz)
* Best State House Staffer - Non Political: Samantha Olds (Tyler Hunt)
* The Beth Hamilton Golden Horseshoe Award for Best House Secretary/Admin. Assistant: Carol Shehorn, Sally McDaniel-Smith (tie)
* Best Senate Secretary/Admin. Assistant: Robin Gragg (Melissa Earle)
* Best political bar in Springfield: DH Brown’s (JP Kelly’s)
* Best political restaurant in Springfield: Sebastian’s (Saputo’s)
* Best bartender: Mike at DH Brown’s (Jamie at Boone’s)
* Best waiter/waitress: Annie at Sunrise (Jess at Brown’s)
* The Question: Any suggestions for additions and/or subtractions? It may be getting too long.
We kick off the awards again tomorrow, so start thinking about your faves.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:19 pm
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What about the “James Brown, hardest Working reporter in Springfield” award?
Comment by Ghost of Chiboogie Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:35 pm
The Bullseye Award for the favorite politician snark target of the year.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:38 pm
The list is pretty long. Makes it hard to vote each year.
What about removing some of the staff horseshoes and adding in best quote by a candidate / politician or worst quote
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:48 pm
Dare we add the Roland Burris Best Political Stunt of the Year?
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:48 pm
===What about removing some of the staff horseshoes===
That would be the last thing I’d remove. Staff works hard for long hours with little recognition. They deserve their awards.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:49 pm
What about the best union cave?
Comment by rollling meadows Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:50 pm
People, c’mon. This is a serious question.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:52 pm
In the absence of any serious response…I’d leave it alone. It’s been honed for a while and continues to serve well.
Comment by A guy... Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 12:57 pm
What about Best Local Elected Official? I know this is a state politics/gov site, but sometimes mayors and others play a big role in what’s discussed here.
Comment by Roamin' Numeral Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:10 pm
I am glad Rich keeps these positive, there is always too much negative, and in that vain, I have been honored this last year.
Adding?
Best Illinois Twitter - Politcal
Best Illinois Twitter - Governmental
Best Illinois Twitter - Media
Submitted with respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:11 pm
Best Election Law Lawyer or Best Government Lawyer.
Comment by Big Debbie Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:14 pm
Okay, here’s a serious one. Since we know it’s the staff that do most the detail work, how about Best Behind the Scenes Bill Drafter?
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:14 pm
I’d get rid of Lifetime Service Award in the House and Senate. Those seem to maybe be very special awards that could occur occasionally if someone really special leaves.
Comment by 4 percent Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:15 pm
Good idea, OW. But for the first year anyway, how about it’s just “Best use of social media by a government official or candidate”?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:15 pm
One more, but I’m not sure how you could actually decide this one.
Most Influential CapFax Commenter as judged by the number of their ideas aired on CF that get picked up and incorporated into legislation.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:17 pm
Rich,
Much easier than how I had it. Thanks for considering.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:20 pm
If we feel it’s too long, then possibly merge a few categories. If we’re happy with length, then don’t change a single thing.
We currently have general categories for House and Senate on some issues: best House Secretary/Admin Assistant, best Senate Secretary/Admin Assistant, lifetime service award for the House, lifetime service award for the Senate, and so on.
I’m not sure if the earlier reference is to legislative staff, campaign staff or all staff, but it might make sense to consolidate some of the campaign categories.
For example, right now we have
Best campaign staffer for the
House Dems
House GOP
Senate Dems
Senate GOP
Possibly narrow that down to:
“Best House Campaign Staffer”
“Best Senate Campaign Staffer”
The same thing applies to merging best State Rep and best State Senator, rather than a Republican and Democrat in each.
Of course, that runs the risk of recognizing a lopsided number of Democrats in such a Democratic legislature.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:23 pm
I’d suggest removing the campaign staffer categories in off-election years. Also, the campaign staff director category seems unnecessary since there are only 4. Best staff attorney is a worthwhile category
Comment by LittleLebowskiUrbanAchiever Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:23 pm
How about “Quote of the Year”?
With so many colorful characters and witty zingers in Illinois, it could be the most heavily nominated and hotly contested category of all.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:26 pm
Best statehouse reporter!
Comment by anon Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:34 pm
Best freshman legislator?
Comment by anon Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:42 pm
Best Legislation of the Year?
Worst Legislation of the Year?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:43 pm
How about one Profile in Courage Award for a legislator or statewide official who takes a big political risk to do what he or she feels is the right thing for the Land of Lincoln? It seems to me that legislator-of-the-year awards usually do not involve taking serious political risks by, for example, standing up to an interest group that normally has its way with your caucus.
Comment by reformer Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:44 pm
Willy, @FakeJasonPlummer is probably not eligible!
Someone beat me to best Statehouse reporter, sooo:
Best New Blog Commenter?
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:00 pm
reformer - Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 1:44 pm:
That could be named after Richard Ogilvie …
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:01 pm
I think the list is a little too long. As Rich said in response to Siriusly, the staff awards should remain, and for exactly the reason Rich stated. Staff work extremely hard and put in some grueling hours, they deserve the recognition.
But I do agree with “Formerly Known As…” that perhaps some of the categories should be consolidated, such as best House staffer and best Senate staffer, rather than picking one from each caucus. I also think the Lifetime Service awards could be cut out.
Initially, I didn’t think any should be added, that there were too many as it is…but I really like the Profile in Courage idea offered up by reformer. I also kind of like the best/worst legislation suggestion from wordslinger.
Comment by ??? Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:03 pm
I would really not like to see the breakouts of Party and Chamber.
Each staff, and each staff in each chamber should be recognized, and their peers should have the opportunity to recognize the Best Senate Democrat staffer, and the Best House Republican staffer too.
Same for secretaries in the Chambers.
They all work too hard, for too long, and mkae too many look good.
Sorry, I just felt that comsolidating Staff awards is not fair to all those who toil, and the Best of the Year deserve that recognition.
Apologies.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:09 pm
I’m assuming this is a paid subscriber voting thing so I don’t know how it works, but you could always just release a few categories at a time to reduce clutter.
1. You could reduce the party affiliations for the elected officials and just have one “Best Illinois State Senator” and one “Best Illinois State Representative.”
2. Merge the lobbyist category into one or two instead of three.
3. Replace Best Congresscritter with a “Best use of social media by a government official or candidate”
4. Merge the restaurant bar category, but keep the bartender and waiter/waitress categories separate.
Without doing #4 this brings you to 25 categories which is just one more than the Oscars. I like a lot of what is above me too.
Comment by MEP Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:13 pm
Best Oscar pic
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:15 pm
===That would be the last thing I’d remove. Staff works hard for long hours with little recognition. They deserve their awards===
Thank you, Rich.
Comment by John Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:31 pm
I’m fine with how many categories there are, as long as they’re good categories. If you wanted to, you could merge categories, but have more winners.
Comment by Timmeh Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 2:34 pm
Yeah, cut the lifetime awards. Special circumstances will require special awards. Maybe…
Most Compromising Compromise
Best Gov’s Office or Executive Branch Staffer
Comment by Dan Bureaucrat Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 3:18 pm
For 2013 only: Best Pension Prognosticator — looks like RUNG would be a lock!!
Many thanks to him and others!
Comment by WhoKnew Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:02 pm
I like the Profile in Courage award.
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:20 pm
Leave them alone. I have enough trouble with these.
Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 4:32 pm
How bout best legislative intern?
Comment by Former intern... Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 5:03 pm
How about “Best (or Most Influential) Rich Miller / Capitol Fax Post, Including Reader’s Comments”?
I think this website is closely monitored by many political movers and shakers in Illinois and that a deluge of passionate responses to a provocative post can actually affect some political decisions.
Clearly Rich has created one 800-pound gorilla of a political website and this suggestion is my way of recognizing the synergistic power of his site.
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 6:45 pm
Maybe that should be “Including Readers’ Comments”?
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 6:55 pm
==“Best use of social media by a government official or candidate” ==
That would be great!
Agree that staff should get their recognition. I know they look forward to this category and the opportunity to “anonymously” recognize their peers.
If you want to make changes, I’d remove restaurant, bar, and bartender. Frankly, there aren’t that many options anymore and they are all great contenders.
Comment by yo yo Wednesday, Dec 4, 13 @ 10:03 pm
Best ‘parody’ social media
Comment by Name Withheld Thursday, Dec 5, 13 @ 10:02 am