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* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Democrats goes to Mavilen Silva, the clear crowd favorite…
Mavilen has jumped into her new role as the Chief of Staff for Senator Cristina Castro after working for the House Dems for 9 years. Mavilen had big shoes to fill but she stepped into her new role without missing a beat. She’s diligently worked at addressing every constituent need, working with various organizations on issues related to legislation, budget, etc. that the senator is working on. She’s hard working, very organized and is great at follow-up, and straight forward like her boss, which I really appreciate. After her 10 years of service, Mavilen is very deserving of the recognition here.
Honorable mention to Katie Holmes in Sen. Bush’s office. I freely admit to being partial to Sen. Bush’s entire team, so I was happy to see one of her peeps supported here.
* The 2021 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Assistant/District Office Manager - Senate Republicans goes to Tracy Weiters, another crowd favorite…
Tracy is one of the few people who hasn’t let the activities under the dome or her job change who she is. Just Sayin is correct: “She has always been kind (to everyone including the janitors), passionate and a perfectionist. She always gives credit to everyone else before herself.”
Tracy is KIND, HUMBLE, and has the historical knowledge/relationships to address constituent issues. She doesn’t have a personal agenda and isn’t here for the popularity contest. You’ll never (sigh) when working with Tracy. In this crazy cut throat world under the dome & the negativity in the world fueled by the pandemic.. the world needs us to be a little more like Tracy.
Congrats to everyone!
* On to our next category…
* Best House Democratic Campaign Staffer
* Best Senate Democratic Campaign Staffer
Please try your best to nominate in both categories and make sure to explain your votes or they won’t count.
Also, don’t forget to contribute to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois to help buy Christmas presents for foster kids. Click here. Thanks! After a slow and worrisome start, we’re now outpacing last year and part of the reason is a very generous $5,000 contribution from former state Sen. Susan Garrett. Wow. But you can give any amount you want. Again, please click here. Every little bit helps.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 1:34 pm
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House Dems: Jon Maxson for leading the redistricting effort in a year unlike any other. Despite delayed census data, having to do another map in August, not to mention new congressional and judicial maps, Maxson handled it without missing a beat. He is non-stop. That’s just what he does. Add on top of that his work running the HDEM direct mail program and OR, heading the communications shop and training new staff. he gives it all 100% and cares more about getting the job done than getting credit for it. He certainly deserves that credit now.
Comment by Stratt Ratt Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 1:45 pm
Dem side - Dan Kovats. A lot of challenges thrown their way over the past few months with retirements, shake ups, etc. but Dan just keeps working. Easily one of the hardest workers in IL politics - and I feel often doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Don’t know anyone well enough to say on GOP side, sorry.
Comment by www Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 1:50 pm
House Dems: Another vote for Jon Maxson. Redistricting would not have happened without him. He handled each challenge calmly and dedicated more hours to the project than most people know. It is a well-deserved honor for him after passing an extra legislative map and rolling with the chaos.
Senate Dems: Magen Ryan - she keeps people calm in difficult situations. She also always treats everyone with respect and somehow always manages to stay positive.
Comment by HauntedJess Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 2:26 pm
Mary Morrisey for the House and Magen Ryan for the Senate
This year Morrisey was saddled with wrapping up Speaker Madigan’s old operation and launching Speaker Welch’s new operation. She helped create a new structure while simultaneously dismantling the organization she spent nearly 30 years helping to build. She was also assisting DPI with a monumental transition. Without her leadership, the House would not be ready to begin its 2022 operations. I don’t know how she managed it all.
Magen Ryan is the rockstar of the Senate’s campaign operation. She guided them through a very difficult redistricting and oversaw the efforts to begin preparations for 2022. Her year may not have been as traumatic as Mary’s, but a redistricting year is never easy for the campaign people who have to deal with the legislative side of the shop.
Comment by The Winner Is... Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 3:08 pm
Mary Morrisey for the House Dem side for sure. The WINNER IS nailed it. She truly navigated a smooth transition from one Speaker to the next one, and she didn’t have to do so. She could have walked away.
Magen Ryan for the Senate Dems is a Rock Star. She is the best thing going for Don Harmon and will be the person to keep Don and Jake Butcher out of trouble.
Comment by Another Perspective Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 4:29 pm
Maxson great choice
Comment by ANNON'IN Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 5:14 pm
Morrissey’s work on virtual convention should win national honors
Comment by ANNON'IN Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 5:14 pm
House Dems: Jon Maxson. He is a tireless worker and an excellent example of a legislative staffer. This year Jon not only was the leader for the House redistricting effort, but also was one of the people who helped transition the House Dem political operation to Speaker Welch. No matter what you think of redistricting, an honest person will admit that it is a difficult, complex process that involves high stakes and a lot of competing personalities and interests. Jon, with a calm but direct demeanor, managed the incredibly difficult task of getting not one, but two legislative maps passed in the midst of a pandemic in which the Census itself was mismanaged and delayed by the previous administration in Washington. Let’s not forget that this cycle is just the second time in the modern era that the legislature has passed a legislative redistricting map that has been enacted by a governor. That’s no small feat.
Prior to redistricting, Jon led the House Dem communications team, helping shape not only talking points and issue messaging, but also helping newer staffers develop and improve their writing skills and better understand the members they work with. On the campaign side, Jon has led opposition research and direct mail. Campaigns are zero sum and Jon is not afraid to throw the punches necessary for a point to make an impact with voters. He also worked with lots of candidates, many of them first time candidates, to develop their skills talking to the media and talking to voters.
Senate Dems: Miles Sodowski. As leader of the Senate Dems redistricting effort, Miles showed incredible tact and skill in managing the competing interests at play in order to get over the finish line. It helped of course that he has worked with a lot of members in the Senate Dem caucus on the campaign side, including leading many critical downstate races. He has an incredible work ethic and is a tireless worker.
Comment by The Recycler Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 5:42 pm
Chris Lowery for the House. Every year he is sent to the hardest districts in Southern Illinois and until very recently always came home a winner. While democrats across the country have completely given up on rural areas, Chris has shown that with hard work and creativity democrats can continue to compete in areas Pres. Trump won by 35+ points.
Magen Ryan for the Senate. She has continued to manage the most diverse caucus in the state and ensure they run winning campaigns from Grayslake to Collinsville and everywhere in between.
Comment by Friends Against Wednesday, Dec 8, 21 @ 8:24 pm
House Dems: I vote Jon Maxson. Leading the charge on redistricting he stayed cool, calm and collected throughout the process, especially during veto session when it appeared a map would not be voted upon. He worked 100+ hour weeks with a smile on his face to get the job done. It cannot be overstated how much his political savvy and willingness to go the extra mile guided redistricting this year. Over the years he has been a crucial member to the house democrats on both the state and political sides.
Senate Dems: Magen Ryan also showcased her knowledge, ability to manage members and keep a positive attitude throughout the redistricting process. She left her young daughter at home up north to come to Springfield to help make redistricting a success. Her personal sacrifices did not go unnoticed and she certainly deserves recognition because maps would not have been passed without her.
Comment by TheTribeHasSpoken Thursday, Dec 9, 21 @ 7:27 am
Jon Maxson all day. For the maps obviously and other people have mentioned the years of work he’s done on mail and research. I want to add how Maxson goes above and beyond to make those around him better. Even witha full schedule, he’s always a phone call away for help. Members can rely on him when preparing for forums and interviews. And he is so dedicated to the development of his fellow staff. He consistently takes time to advise those just starting their careers on anything from how to write a press release to how to get ahead in the office. If you want to know why the HDems are successful, look no further than Jon Maxson.
I could say just as many wonderful things about Magan Ryan for the SDems. Magan and Maxson are veterans of the 2011 map so drawing too of those is quite a feat. Magan handles challenges effortlessly and he ability to stay cool under pressure keeps those around her cool as well.
Comment by InTheDome Thursday, Dec 9, 21 @ 8:20 am
It needs to be Magen Ryan for Senate Dems and Jon Maxson for House Dems hands down. The two returning veterans of the 2011 map led a far from ideal redistricting year. They managed to pass two legislative maps, a congressional map, and the first supreme court map since the 60s all in a year with a pandemic and delayed census data. I am sure they both put in countless hours this year to get the process over the finish line. Regardless of your thoughts on the redistricting, it will have an effect on the next 10 years of elections.
Magen is able to keep those around her calm and smiling while getting the job done.
In addition to being a hard worker, Jon takes the time to teach staff how to do things to make them better, offering to share his years of experience in what can be a cutthroat industry.
Comment by CrimeDog Thursday, Dec 9, 21 @ 9:32 am
Jon Maxson/Magen Ryan. Both sharp, great to work with and their expertise was a huge benefit during the redistricting process.
Comment by Anon Thursday, Dec 9, 21 @ 10:14 am