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* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Do-Gooder Lobbyist goes to John Amdor…
SAFE-T Act trailer and expansion of the EITC doesn’t get done without his leadership and those are two big wins in any year, let alone two in one.
Nuff said.
* The 2022 Golden Horseshoe Award for Best Legislative Liaison goes to Andi VanderKolk from the Illinois Department of Insurance…
She does an excellent job of balancing all of the varied interests in the issues she works on (including that of her own agency) and does so with professionalism and grace. She single-handedly navigated an extremely ambitious legislative agenda thrust upon her during a shortened session and still managed to remain as responsive and as accessible as she always is. And to top it all off, she is a just a genuinely kind and warm human that no matter how tough the issue, or what side of it one is on, you still want to have coffee or hang out with her and talk about the day, the week or just life in general.
Andi was clearly the crowd favorite and had a ton of solid nominations.
Congratulations!
* On to today’s categories…
Best State Agency Director
Please do your utmost to nominate in both categories and explain your nominations or they won’t count. Thanks!
* After you vote, please come back and read this story: Before 2019, I helped Lutheran Social Services of Illinois raise a little money during my annual Christmas speech. It was usually around a couple thousand dollars plus a bunch of toys for foster kids. But I stopped doing that speech and decided to switch to online fundraising in 2019. Y’all really stepped up by contributing $11,111 to honor our late commenter Wordslinger that year to buy presents for foster kids in LSSI’s programs. In 2020, we raised $12,175 for LSSI’s kids. Last year, we raised $22,700 for presents.
Well, as I write this, you have so far contributed $39,798! That is just amazing, and the folks at LSSI are simply over the moon with joy. Most importantly, though, you’re helping give a whole lot of foster kids a great holiday to remember. Merry Christmas!
As I’ve already told you, because of your generosity, LSSI has revised its fundraising goal to $45,000. We are not the only ones raising money to buy presents for those foster kids, but we’re by far the largest group. So if LSSI is going to make it to their new goal, it’s mainly up to us to help them get there.
Please, click here and help buy presents for foster kids. If you haven’t yet done so, now’s your chance. If you have already given, but could contribute just a little more, that would be so very awesome. Thanks and I love you all.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 11:49 am
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best agency director. Jerry Costello II. he’s got to deal with a difficult bunch.
Comment by Blue Dog Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 11:51 am
Aw, jeez. Thank you. I’m so fortunate to be a part of coalitions of advocates to Do Good Stuff. There are so many more deserving people I have the pleasure to work alongside (including most of the other incredible folks mentioned yesterday.)
I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you think I’m the best at anything, you need to get out more.
Comment by John Amdor Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 11:59 am
Best Agency Director: Grace Hou, full stop. Rightfully during the pandemic Dr.Ezike with DPH was front in center of much state policy and discussion. DHS was responsible for implementing safety models of service during the pandemic, keeping people connected to benefits, getting out millions of PPE to individuals and organizations, and seeing investments in our social safety net go forward. She was an unsung hero during the pandemic and she’s kept the state’s largest agency thinking forward about the best ways to serve clients and work with partner organizations. She has done this by putting together an incredible and diverse leadership team with real world experience in the NFP partnering space and in the service environments.
Best Statewide Staffer: Leigh Ann Reinert. Many folks may not know of our about Leigh Ann, but she works at the DHS Division of Mental Health. Over the last 2 years, the state has been working to completely overhaul our crisis care continuum. This has involved contemporizing grant expectations, implementing the 988 Crisis and Suicide Hotline, coordinating DMH grant programs with Pathways and other HFS/DCFS child based initiatives, etc. Leigh Ann has been involved in all of these very heavy, time consuming, and impactful programs and developments and she’s earned recognition.
Comment by Waffle Fries Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 12:23 pm
Kristin Richards at IDES is incredibly deserving of this award. Kristin came to the Department at the height of COVID and ensured thousands of citizens were able to access much needed benefits. She shortened call center times and worked to progressively open field offices. She was also able to flawlessly shepherd the much-lauded agreed bill process during Veto session – a win for business, labor and the State. Kristin is someone who doesn’t seek the spotlight and instead looks for ways for her team and others to shine. The State is lucky to have someone like Kristin on the team!
Comment by Margo Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 12:23 pm
Best Agency Director: Theresa Eagleson. She runs the hardest agency in state government with the biggest budgets. With hugely powerful interest groups, she just keeps moving important policy advances and important new programs forward but she does it quietly without trying to be a publicity hound.
Best Statewide Staffer: It’s a tie between Gio and Ben Winick. Both do their jobs very competently while keeping a million balls in the air.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 12:54 pm
Best Director — Jerry Costello gets credit for best fair and weather in past century.
Best Staffer — 2 nominees.
(1) in Big Cheese Category give the gold Andy Manar
(2) in Just Folks Category gotta go with Mark Kolaz who never me a problem he couldn’t solve including overcoming some “roadblocks” and helping SOS Jesse White finish out his GOAT career.
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 12:59 pm
For best agency director-Secretary Omer Osman. He’s dealing with a massively understaffed agency in a super-competitive marketplace, but he’s getting things done. During Covid, IDOT pivoted quickly to remote work and kept projects moving. He brings unbridled passion and experience to the job and his background of being an immigrant provides him unique and advantageous perspectives as he works to create opportunities in the industry. He’ll be the first to tell you he isn’t perfect, but he is accessible , he listens and has demonstrated a willingness to make policy changes and advance innovation.
For best statewide staff–Kevin Schoeben in Comptroller’s office. Always kind, accessible and helpful. Glad to see his job is getting a little easier now that the state has cash.
Comment by Stevenson Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 12:59 pm
Best Agency Director- Dana Popish Severinghaus at DOI. She is knowledgeable, approachable, and an all around strong leader. A Director who knows the legislature is invaluable and she has been able to demonstrate that time and time again.
Best Statewide Staffer- Ben Winick at HFS. He has been around Illinois Government for awhile and the state is better off because of it. He is straightforward, knowledgable, cares about public policy, and a great guy.
Comment by Drew H. Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:15 pm
Best Agency Staffer: Can you nominate anyone other than the Chief of Staff, Michael Morthland? That guy is a solid, hard-working, honest, and all-around great person. Everyone likes him. (Seriously, I haven’t found one person who doesn’t.) He implements any task and gets it done while making sure his team’s morale is up. All Stakeholders (no matter the position) like working with him.
Michael Morthland. The Beard. The Work Ethic. The Whole Package.
Agency Director: I second for Jerry Costello for all of the reasons stated above.
Comment by Avocado Toast Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:18 pm
Best Agency Director: Jerry Costello II - He was made for the job.
Best Statewide staffer - Ben Winnick - he constantly navigates a complex network with a changing environment including assisting recent migrants.
Comment by YIMBY Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:21 pm
Best statewide staffer is, hands down, Anne Caprara. This woman has outlasted the men in the hardest job in state government. She runs an entire government and in her off time made sure the gov won by bigger margins. She’s had a lot of wins this year, whether it was finally taking over the party in a state that tried to run her out (they failed by the way) or securing a national profile for her boss or just effectively running an entire government where people before her failed miserably. She’s got a loyal staff fostered by her attention to their growth and support. Pritzker is lucky to have her and his successes are in big part thanks to her.
Best agency director is Alexis Sturm at GOMB. Look at the State’s finances. This fiscal turnaround is nothing short of a miracle and she’s the one at the helm who knows the budget inside and out. She’s kept the reins on the budget at a time when we’re flush with money and typically people would have just spent it. Instead she’s led the way in creating a path to fiscal sanity.
Comment by I got this Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:30 pm
There are genuinely so many folks to choose from on this.
For Agency Director I have to echo Dana Popish Severinghaus. She hit the grown running with confidence and hasn’t slowed since. A really great and effective leader.
For statewide, as hard as it was to choose from the many deserving and hardworking folks, I have to choose Mike Morthland as well. His policy knowledge is vast and he has a sincere love of helping people. He will always go out of his way to get you what you need and just a really nice and funny person.
Comment by Gwen Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:32 pm
Best statewide staffer - Ben Winick: Ben does an amazing job navigating the complexities of healthcare. He puts his all into what he does and is always knowledgeable and helpful.
Comment by TAR Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:38 pm
Best Statewide staffer - Ben Winick. Rock Fing Solid. From where he started in his career as a volunteer for Pat Quinn from Quincy, Illinois to where he has come in helping lead a state agency that oversees a third of the state budget. Navigating COVID, helping manage the complexities of managed care, knowing how to communicate with the power players in government…he has become a trusted leader inside HFS, the Illinois General Assembly and most importantly the governor’s office
Comment by Grassroots + Grasstops Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Statewide Staffer: Has to be Anne Caprara. In a state where usually nobody wants nobody nobody sent, Anne has excelled in both political and legislative spheres. She oversaw a raise in the minimum wage, legalized cannabis, and a historic capital plan…in her first year on the job. Since then, she and her team navigated a global pandemic with unparalleled grit and made sure the state came out the other end on solid footing. Oh, and her guy cruised to re-election on the back of those accomplishments. Not even close.
Agency Director: Alexis Sturm has been the administration’s steady hand from the jump, playing a key role in bringing us back from fiscal collapse and toward prosperity. No small feat.
Comment by West Sider Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:44 pm
Best Staffer: Jumping on the Ben Winnick bandwagon for all the above mentioned reasons. He’s always available to assist and resolve issues, and his curmudgeonly manner is both endearing and well-earned.
Best Agency Director: DOI Director Dana Popish Serveringhaus. She knows insurance and she knows how the legislature functions, which makes her and her team extremely effective around the statehouse. She’s always available to work out issues with stakeholders and have an open dialogue.
Comment by Taylor S. Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:49 pm
I second Kevin Schoeben for best statewide staff. He has worked all over state government and no one cares more than him about the people in Illinois. His intentions are always to do what is right for tax payers, constituents, and what is right in general. He is a truly good person inside and out and a pleasure to work with and work for. He prides himself on being accessible and getting things accomplished for those who reach out to the office in need. He shepherded the office during two really difficult times in our state. The budget impasse had people of all walks of life calling and even stopping in the office begging for their money to be released. He treated each case as important as the next and had empathy for each person. During COVID he once again was at the helm during an economic crisis. No one deserves this more than Kevin.
For best agency director it HAS to be Alexis Sturm. She is one smart cookie who knows the state’s finances inside and out. and what better duo than Alexis and Kevin. They work hand in hand to do what is best financially for the state. Alexis is also kind and caring and humble. Have you seen the reports her agency puts out? Thorough through and through. She is just impressive to say the least.
Comment by Mocking Jay Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:51 pm
I concur with Jerry Costello - great fair and an overall good guy to get things done.
Comment by Paul S Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:55 pm
Agency Director - Anne Caprara. In this high-pressure, fast-paced world we live in, there is none better than AC. She by far has the hardest job in Illinois government and manages to do it all. There is no one better to run that office.
Comment by Coffee Time Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 1:57 pm
Agency Director: Mario Treto, Jr., IDFPR.
Leading an agency that could easily be two or three is no easy task. Yet Mario stays on top and is knowledgeable on all proceedings in the four Divisions at all times. He also navigated the Department through the legal hurdles that led to the new cannabis dispensary licenses starting to be issued this year. And, while there is still work to be done, he’s also rebuilt the team that handles professional licensing after it was gutted under the Rauner administration.
Also: Mario is one heckuva nice guy to who can talk to you on just about anything. Mario’s a dedicated public servant who truly wants what best not only for his team, but for everyone in Illinois.
Comment by Saluki24 Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:00 pm
Best Staffer: Anne Capara. In the time Anne has been in Illinois, she has taken this state into the 21st century and beyond whether that be with cannabis, gaming, minuimum wage - you name it, she has lead us there. Not to mention all the countless hours keeping Illinoians safe during the pandemic.
Best Agency Director: IDES Director Kristin Richards. Kristin took the toughest job in the state and brought order to an agency that badly needed it. She was a proven leader under President Cullerton and continues that tradition at IDES.
Comment by SPI_Transplant Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:01 pm
Resending this (in case there is double 🤷🏼♀️)
Best staffer: I second Kevin Schoeben, assistant comptroller. He has worked all over state government and no one cares more about the people of Illinois than Kevin. His intention is to always to what is right for taxpayers, constituents, and what is right in general. He is truly good inside and out. He shepherded the office through two crises. During the budget impasse, people from all walks of life would call and even come to the office begging for their money to be released. He treated each case with the same importance and empathy as the last. He is a pleasure to work with and for and he prides himself on being accessible and helping ever person regardless of status or title.
Best agency director has to go to Alexis Sturm. She is one smart cookie who knows Illinois’ finances inside and out. She is kind, tough, and humble. Someone to aspire to be. And what better duo than Kevin and Alexis who work hand in hand to do the right thing for illinois taxpayers.
No one deserves a Golden Horseshoe more than these two. They are everything you want in a public servant.
Comment by Mocking Jay Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:11 pm
Kristin Richards at IDES is incredibly deserving of this award. Kristin came to the Department at the height of COVID and ensured thousands of citizens were able to access much needed benefits. She shortened call center times and worked to progressively open field offices. She was also able to flawlessly shepherd the much-lauded agreed bill process during Veto session – a win for business, labor and the State. Kristin is someone who doesn’t seek the spotlight and instead looks for ways for her team and others to shine. The State is lucky to have Kristin on the team!
Comment by Anne Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:14 pm
Agency Director - Easily Anne Caprara. She is the brains behind an incredible operation. This state is in the best shape it has been in years. She has a thankless job and uplifts all. No one can do it the way she does.
Comment by Illinois Transplant Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:21 pm
Best Staffer: If you have met her- you will understand. No one does it better than Anne Caprara. The Governor hit the jackpot with AC. She’s the hardest worker I know, heart of gold (always concerned about her staff and their well being) all while being tough as nails. It is true that she does have tattoos of her enemies— so don’t get on the wrong side of this Philly native. She has made Illinois her home and her friends her family. We are lucky to have her.
Director- Gotta go with the job that Kristin Richards has done over at IDES. No doubt that Richards has always been a rockstar— but the Senate’s loss was JB’s gain. Kristin took over at an all time unemployment high and has helped navigate the fraud issues. Richards along with Manar/George were able to come up with a UI agreement during veto. As JB said in his presser - Richards and her staff ran hundreds of models to get to the best solution. Richards continues to be a rising star in Illinois state government.
Comment by Simon Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:56 pm
Sorry to be the editor here, but Gov CoS is not an agency director. Maybe they mean her for best staffer.
Comment by Hmmm.... Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 2:57 pm
It is so abundantly clear that the people nominating Anne have never worked for her. She does not care about the well-being of the people who work for her and created an extremely toxic environment for so many hard working people in the gov’s office. She is smart and a hard worker but would not describe her as having a “heart of gold”. Just saying.
Comment by uhhhh Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:18 pm
Staffer: Assistant comptroller Kevin Schoeben. He has a wealth of institutional knowledge & leads with compassion. He knows how to help fellow staff reach their potential & makes the values of the office clear: taking care of taxpayers and the state’s most vulnerable.
Agency director: Alexis Sturm. Another smart as heck fiscal leader who doesn’t always get all the accolades she deserves.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:23 pm
There are many deserving folks for both these categories - making it very difficult to choose!
Agency director: echo Dana Popish Severinghaus. She came in and hit the ground running with total confidence and overall is a all around great leader
Best state-wide: This was so tough, but I am going to give it to Mike Morthland. He’s such a hard work, really smart on policy and overall just has a sincere desire to help people get what they need. A joy to be around
Comment by Gwen Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:27 pm
Statewide Staffer: I will 3rd the vote for Kevin Schoeben for being the calm, steady hand that keeps the state’s bills being paid on time, responds immediately to crises and pleas from state vendors with reasonable solutions. His lifetime of service in various branches of state government shows. Close 2nd (5th?) to Ben Winick who likewise makes things calmer at a very challenging agency. @G&G Ben hails from Galesburg, not Quincy.
Best Agency Director: I’ll 4th the nomination for Alexis Sturm at GOMB, who deserves more credit than she gets for crafting these ever-improving budgets that could bog down and start losing votes if she did not skillfully put all the pieces together.
Comment by Strategy Geek Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:32 pm
There are so many unsung heroes is state government that it is impossible to give each their due. Whatever administration they are in, whatever job title, no matter who is in charge or who needs help - be they influential or every day folks - they rise to the challenge, act with urgency, figure it out, improvise, and never rest until the work is done.
There are many I could nominate, but this year I have to suggest Nadine O’Leary at IDPH’s Vital Records Office. Like the line from It’s A Wonderful Life, “every time a bell rings, an angel gets it’s wings,” there is a very good chance that if you read a heartwarming tale of some family having their inheritance returned to them, or some nonprofit or church or university or hospital receiving a generous gift from a donor they never knew about, Nadine was involved in making sure that some Illinoisan’s last wishes are honored. She is swift, professional, humble, and generous in her work, and deeply committed to serving the public in her role, as she has been in every role she has had in her career.
Getting a birth record or a death record might seem like a small, ministerial thing. But it can mean the difference between locating a widow or niece or nephew or son to return tens of thousands of dollars. It can easy the burden of time, emotion, technology or travel on grieving families. But most importantly, it helps grieving families with one of the few burdens we can ease - unlike the pain of loss - it shows compassion amidst loneliness, and it lets them know government actually does care. Nadine understands that.
Comment by Dave Clarkin Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:37 pm
Statewide Staffer — Laura Vaught is one of the most effective, no nonsense, state staffers. She knows how to get things done in her agency and can help point you in the right direction for other agencies. Most important she genuinely loves her job and is a good person.
Agency Director — Jennifer Ricker has done a great job turning around a fledgling agency in a state desperately in need for a tech makeover.
Comment by Thoughts Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:40 pm
Statewide: Anne Caprara. She is top notch and has changed the state with JB around to be so much better and efficient. She is a workhorse and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. She has truly made an incredible name for herself in Illinois politics.
Comment by Whitehouse Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:40 pm
Best agency director - Grace Hou - the programs her agency runs support the lowest income people in the state and her commitment to those people shines through daily.
I don’t quite know who does or does not qualify in the statewide staffer category but someone else said Andy Manar and I agree. He got things done as a legislator and has done the same in the Governor’s office.
Comment by Nominations Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:44 pm
Agency Director: Brendan Kelly at ISP gets my vote for not only helming a large police force (with all the inherent challenges) but also continuing the slow work of rebuilding a gutted administrative agency. ISP is far from perfect but it’s notable for the progress it’s made under his leadership. Oh, he also works hard to bring the local law enforcement leaders and remind them of the political reality of Illinois in 2022.
Statewide staffer: Giving this as a group award to the governor’s legislative and policy folks. They are smart people who work hard. They should be paid more and given more authority.
Comment by The Opinions Bureau Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:46 pm
Best agency director goes to Grace Hou. She’s competent and always on. You can trust she knows what she’s talking about.
Best staffer has to go to Anne C. this year. She’s a powerhouse who more often than not works quietly behind the scenes to get things done for the Governor. She’s successfully maneuvered through the politics of this state and has deftly managed the Governor’s Office for four years. The tremendous successes the state has enjoyed under Pritzker’s leadership is thanks to her. Without her JB wouldn’t be Governor, let alone one of the most successful Gov’s in the nation. It’s a thankless job and one that requires a lot of sacrifice, but she does it with grace, humility and a good sense of humor.
Comment by Mine Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:49 pm
Statewide - I’ll chime in for Caprara. This state would be in a much worse position if not for her steady leadership through the pandemic and we are so lucky she’s decided to stick around.
Agency Director - Grace Hou. Dealt an incredibly difficult hand by GOP governors seeking to score cheap political points, she made sure those traveling to Illinois were given what they needed to land on their feet.
Comment by Just win Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 3:53 pm
Best statewide staffer - Anne Caprara should win this going away. Chalk Pritzker’s long winning streak up to her and her recruitment of the best official/political team that the state has probably ever seen and her ability to lead them.
Comment by uialum Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:00 pm
Taking a tremendous victory over a deeply unpopular incumbent Governor into first term legislative success of all of the big things, navigating a global pandemic, lotta trip wires in Springfield but they keep moving forward.. She’s got my vote. Anne Caprara
Comment by Lake/Cook Road Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:06 pm
Best statewide staffer: Anne Carrara hands down. No disrespect to the other nominees, there are quite a few good ones here, but part of this conversation has to be the difficulty of the job. Caprara is too often times written off. She is constantly underestimated. Too many people root for her to fail. She rarely fails and has made her boss one of the most successful Governor’s in the country and one of the most successful in state history (in the first term). Whether you like her or not is immaterial to this question. She is a leader through and through.
Best Agency Director: Jerry Costello at the Department of Agriculture. No frills. He keeps his agency out of the news unless it is good news. This is the definition of a good agency director.
Comment by Yellow Man Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:12 pm
Best Statewide Staffer – there are a ton of great nominations mentioned, and each one is deserving of recognition, but I don’t see how you can go with anyone other than Anne Caprara for the top spot. She is as sharp as she is hard working, and she will not let herself be outworked. Bottom line – she has helped run one of the most successful administrations in history, both in terms of policy advancements and turning our state finances around, not to mention at the same time navigating our state through a global pandemic. That can’t be topped! The proof is in the past election cycle. And, don’t forget her fantastic Twitter commentary.
Best Agency Director – has got to go to Theresa Eagleson. There are few people who have come into a job with as much institutional knowledge as Theresa, and thank goodness she was there when the proverbial s*$& hit the fan in early 2020. The fact that she has continued to serve the state of Illinois this long after COVID has somewhat cooled down is a testament to her dedication. She runs the largest agency budget in the state and perhaps the most complex policy matters of any agency. Moreover, Theresa and her team are constantly responding to powerful influences from trade associations, advocacy groups, and the legislature, and she continues successfully navigating HFS through it all. She arguably has the hardest job in state government and she excels at it.
Comment by Checkers Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:14 pm
Not sure if it’s agency director or staffer but the award goes to Anne Caprara. No one has had to navigate the kind of challenges facing our state than she and so successfully as well. And her positioning of the Governor helped pave the way for a successful reelection.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:16 pm
Agency Director - Second the nomination for Alexis Sturm. As of spring 2022, the state had received six credit upgrades. Credit obviously goes to the Governor and Deputy Governors Manar and Hynes as well, but GOMB consistently does amazing work, and Alexis has led it with a steady hand for years.
Best Statewide Staffer: Let’s consider for a moment what Anne Caprara deals with as the chief of staff to the objectively most successful Governor this state has had in years. She manages all of the deputy governors, and their portfolios, so the success that the state has seen on the budget, the reforms we’ve seen at agencies, the diversity that exists in the Governor’s office and the cabinet, all accrue to her. She is the Governor’s chief strategist - so every legislative accomplishment he has achieved, from balanced budgets investing in public safety and education, to capital, to increased abortion access, she has been in the room calling plays.
Most importantly, no person other than the Governor himself was more responsible for guiding the state through (fingers crossed) a deadly global pandemic. The early focus on mitigations, the focus on PPE, the early involvement of the National Guard, the investment in small business support, the daily press conferences with Ezike and the Governor, and the eventual smart re-opening of the state this year, key budgetary investments in restarting the economy, all were - whether you agreed with them or not - an incredibly intricate communications and operations strategy, and Anne was the chief strategy and operations officer of all of it.
And by the way, as a volunteer, she was effectively senior advisor to a masterful re-election campaign that saw the Governor re-elected by a wider margin than his first victory. Anne has had a long and distinguished political career, but the last two years have been perhaps her magnum opus.
I enthusiastically nominate Anne Caprara for Best Statewide Staffer.
Comment by Non-Radical Candor Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:18 pm
Best State Agency Director
Agency work is difficult in an overall and trying to helm an agency that might be visible far more than others is more difficult too. There’s always the challenge to motivate the agency and work in concert with the public actors that help the agency achieve its mission. This director was one of the first to be appointed and consistently proves that it’s one of the best hires this governor has made.
I nominate Brendan Kelly for Best State Agency Director
Looking at so many challenges this agency has faced from four years ago to this very day, Kelly has been successful at bringing real results to an agency mired in many challenges, all the while being accessible to all within and outside the agency, and helping the governor moving policy,
Looking at a full package director that has paid dividends to the administration but even more importantly to this state guiding the agency to meet the challenges and the mission of the State Police.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 4:54 pm
Best Statewide Staffer
When I look at what this award could represent, I see there are two things that immediately come to my mind:
* Be invaluable in so many facets while still doing the usual job exceptionally well.
* Be loyal and focused to the overall goals and if that means being the one as the face of tough choices by others, it’s done.
So much of governing isn’t at all flashy. We see flashy things, press opportunities, news reports, anything that appears as a shiny object. Those are all great, and important too to the politics, but what governing is and always is… it’s the blocking and tackling to get done the important things that lead up to those press offerings.
Blocking and tackling in this instance is finding 60 and 30, it’s bringing folks together that agree… they just don’t know they agree, yet. It’s guiding agencies away from pitfalls, but also handling the tough issues that aren’t always the good seen. It’s mentoring, but also leading. It’s teaching but never forgetting the need for the lesson to be completed. It’s it’s managing the wonky while keeping the political in its proper context. Campaigns are hard, it’s the governing that’s difficult, and being the Best Staffer means you live all these thoughts, but excel at the two criteria I had in the beginning.
I nominate Anne Caprara as Best Statewide Staffer
The list of accomplishments by this administration this calendar year, this legislative session, while juggling so much of the needed and ignoring so much of the noise, it’s a credit that if an administration can look like a duck easily swimming while the feet paddle feverishly below the surface, allowing an ease to the eye that is deceiving to that truth, that’s what makes one the best.
There are others very worthy, but in this year, one did it the best.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 5:08 pm
As the other have said:
Statewide Staffer: Anne Caprara as “Checkers” posted “she has helped run one of the most successful administrations in history, both in terms of policy advancements and turning our state finances around, not to mention at the same time navigating our state through a global pandemic.”
Agency Director: Alexis Sturm has had a key role in bringing the State back from fiscal collapse and toward prosperity.
Comment by SHGMafia?? Tuesday, Dec 13, 22 @ 5:25 pm