Eight people made The Bee’s 2011 Californians to Watch list a year ago. Before we embark on a 2012 list of watchable Capitol types on Monday, it’s time to look back at how things went for those we spotlighted last year.

Allan Zaremberg

PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Zaremberg launched the year preaching cooperation with Gov. Jerry Brown after a chamber-backed "issue" ad attacked Brown during the gubernatorial campaign.

Ultimately, Zaremberg and the chamber signed on to the Democratic governor's plan to extend 2009 tax increases.

Zaremberg told Republicans the business community would be there for them if they cast the tough votes for taxes, but those assurances failed to win votes, and Brown's plan fizzled.

Meanwhile, the sour economy helped Zaremberg's business lobby swat down most of the "job-killer" bills they detested.

By year's end, Zaremberg was pondering whether he could guarantee businesses' political heft for Brown's new tax increase plan - now an initiative planned for next November.

The plan would increase income taxes on upper-income earners, anathema to owners of businesses who do not file as corporations.

- Dan Smith

Mary Nichols

CHAIRWOMAN, CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD

After successfully fending off legal challenges to the state's landmark cap-and-trade program, Nichols pushed for the nation's broadest auto emission standards.

The new advanced clean car rules, unveiled earlier this month, were developed with the Obama administration, which aims to double the nation's auto fuel economy standards for new cars from the current 27.3 mph to 54.5 mph by the year 2025.

California's rules carry a broader mandate by regulating the amount of smog-forming emissions for cars and by developing targets for the number of electrical vehicles and other zero-emission cars on California roads.

Cap and trade, meanwhile, survived legal challenges from environmental groups before the board voted in October to adopt the final rules for the program, which regulates carbon emissions from California's largest oil and gas producers, utilities and transportation companies.

- Rick Daysog

David Sanchez

FORMER PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

Sanchez, a kindergarten teacher and the first Latino president of the powerful California Teachers Association, entered the year vying to protect union members from looming budget cuts.

By April, Sanchez's organization was encouraging Brown to abandon his campaign to extend temporary tax increases by a public vote, instead calling for the Legislature to extend those taxes on its own. At a protest at the Capitol the following month, Sanchez was among teachers union members arrested after refusing to leave the Capitol at closing time.

Just after Sanchez's term as president ended, the CTA won a major concession in last summer's budget package, a measure protecting teachers from layoffs.

- David Siders

Gavin Newsom

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Newsom came into office trying to be relevant, and he spent his first six months working on a jobs plan. Business groups praised the effort, but it was upstaged by Brown's own jobs and tax package.

There was little working relation-ship between the two Democratic politicians, who occasionally criticized each other. Newsom did use his position as a University of California regent and California State University board member to speak out against college tuition hikes, which have become an increasingly significant issue.

- David Siders

Mike Jimenez

PRESIDENT, CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL PEACE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

As nemesis Arnold Schwarzenegger termed out of office, Jimenez entered 2011 determined to strike a labor deal with the new Democratic governor. He did.

The contract that took effect last April had some concessions, such as 12 unpaid days off for one year and higher pension costs.

But it also brought the health benefits for the union's 32,000 members up to speed after contract talks deadlocked and Schwarzenegger imposed terms in 2007.

The new labor deal with Brown blunted Jimenez's critics, who faulted his mercurial style and the personal battle with Schwarzenegger.

Union delegates re-elected the 50-year-old former correctional officer to a third three-year term.

- Jon Ortiz

Connie Conway

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER

With Democrats dominating the Legislature, Conway hoped to exert GOP influence in state budget talks. She had little success, and Democrats ultimately passed a budget without GOP votes.

Republicans kept Democrats from raising taxes, but by failing to compromise on that issue, the GOP may have lost a golden opportunity to negotiate pension reductions, loosen business regulations or impose a stronger spending cap.

By year's end, there was some behind-the-scenes caucus talk of unseating Conway, but it died without fanfare.

- Jim Sanders

Nicolas Berggruen

BILLIONAIRE HEAD OF "THINK LONG" COMMITTEE TO OVERHAUL CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT

The group of wealthy business leaders and former political officials assembled by globe-trotting billionaire businessman Berggruen spent the year working behind closed doors on a proposal they hoped would make California governance golden again.

The Think Long Committee for California unveiled its recommendations last month, announcing plans to push an overhaul of the state's tax system and a constitutional amendment to create a new panel with power to place future measures directly on the ballot.

Berggruen had pledged to bankroll both measures to the tune of $20 million, but neither has yet been submitted as an official proposal. Even with deep pockets, the clock is ticking for Think Long to make the cut for next November's election.

Opposition from political heavyweights such as the California Teachers Association as well as Brown's desire to clear the field of measures that could complicate his own tax proposal may put Berggruen's plans on hold.

- Torey Van Oot

Ana Matosantos

DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

As Brown's chief fiscal guru, Matosantos oversaw his budget proposals, starting with the January tax-and-cut framework that the governor pursued through the first half of the year. Ultimately, Republicans rejected his taxes, Democrats approved his cuts and an uptick in tax revenues filled in the difference.

Matosantos' Department of Finance signed off on a last-minute optimistic forecast essential to closing the budget in June. Her department also determined this month that the state would fall short of that forecast, triggering about $1 billion in midyear cuts to education and social services.

Matosantos offered her resignation in October after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, but Brown declined to accept it.

- Kevin Yamamura

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