Capitol Alert

JOSE HERMOCILLO, public affairs exec--The senior VP/managing director of APCO Worldwide's Sacramento office has operated as the power behind state and local power for more than three decades, advising and representing corporations, industry groups, coalitions, nonprofits and governments on legislative, regulatory, ballot measure and litigation issues. Known as a keen but understated strategist, the trumpet-playing 2007 PR News Public Affairs Executive of the Year has played key roles in more than a dozen statewide and local ballot measures. His office was enlisted by the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency to conduct public-outreach campaigns to raise local funds for flood-control projects, resulting in victories at the ballot box in 2000 and 2007. APCO Worldwide also helped The California Endowment, the state's largest health care foundation, to achieve its goal of obtaining better health and living conditions for the state's agricultural workers, earning accolades from the International Association of Business Communicators and the Sacramento Public Relations Association.

J. CLARK KELSO, state prison health care receiver--His McGeorge law school bio refers to him as "a scholar with a reputation for outspoken independence." The former chief information officer for the state of California, who previously served as temporary insurance commissioner after Chuck Quackenbush resigned, was appointed by a judge in January of this year to be the state prison medical czar. Kelso wasted no time pulling rank: He threw down the gauntlet to spend $7 billion in state funds to add more correctional health care beds to comply with constitutional standards--with or without legislative approval, which he claims not to need. Other budget-starved departments can only wish for that kind of clout.

WILL KEMPTON, Caltrans director--Very few people have more power over our day-to-day lives than Kempton, who is responsible for 50,000 miles of highway and freeway lanes, directs the state's inter-city rail services, and permits more than 400 airports and heliports. Kempton, who works with a budget of almost $14 billion, has earned praise for pulling Caltrans out of its bureaucracy-plagued inertia and for establishing relationships with other transportation organizations. If you think your job is tough, just be glad the San Francisco Bay Bridge or Interstate 5 isn't being restructured on your watch.

DONNA LUCAS, PR spokeswoman--The consigliere who made a name for herself whispering into Maria Shriver's ear is now at work restoring the Maloof brothers to Sacramento's good graces following the soured arena deal at The Railyards. So far, so good: The Kings owners, she says, are "very supportive" of the NBA's and Cal Expo's plans to work toward building an arena at the fairgrounds.

DENNIS MANGERS, retired lobbyist, adviser--Dubbed the "Gay Godfather" by the Sacramento News & Review, the now openly homosexual former assemblyman quit his gig as a powerful cable lobbyist to become the right-hand man of soon-to-be state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. An ardent supporter of the local arts, he really is like a father in that he gives wise advice to a coterie of power players, and he's always very discreet.

DORIS MATSUI, U.S. Representative, 5th District--Picking up where her late husband, Robert, left off (Doris won a special election to serve out his term after his death in 2005 and was re-elected in 2006), this Democratic lawmaker may have saved the Sacramento region from a fate as ghastly as New Orleans' in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Matsui, a former Clinton adviser, played a key role in passing legislation containing $700 million in authorized funds for long-term local flood protection. The $1.3 billion Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project, which broke ground this past January and will double the level of flood protection for the Sacramento Valley when completed in 2015, is the culmination of Matsui's diligent efforts to keep us on terra firma. This past June, Matsui, who also has been instrumental in establishing an intermodal transportation center in downtown Sac, was appointed to the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most coveted positions on Capitol Hill.

ROGER NIELLO, state assemblyman--In Sacramento, the name Niello means car dealerships, and it also means political power. The former Sac County supervisor and Metro Chamber president (yes, he's one of those Niellos), who represents the 5th District as a Republican, is regarded as a genuine, no-nonsense leader with a host of legislative accomplishments under his belt. Because of him, local governments have help in cracking down on illegal dumping, and racially charged language in homeowners' CC&Rs is a thing of the past. This past year, Niello's bill to end the practice of "triple dipping" by county retirees was signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger into law. Niello was elected by 61 percent of voters to a second Assembly term in November 2006, after which he became vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee and lead negotiator on budget issues for the Assembly Republican Caucus.

RICHIE ROSS, political consultant--Characterized as a ruthless political king (and queen) maker, Ross has a 30-plus-year history of racking up wins for Democratic candidates and causes. The "puppeteer of City Hall" is running incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo's fireworks-laden campaign against former NBA star and Oak Park developer/educator Kevin Johnson. The two face a runoff in the November general election.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, governor--Need we elaborate? Never mind the chronic state budget mess or his sinking approval ratings, our movie-star guv has made Sacramento cool or at least notable in the eyes of everyone.

DARRELL STEINBERG, state senator--The incoming Senate president pro tem will be the first Sacramentan to hold the top-dog post in 125 years. Steinberg, a Democrat, may be known as a Mr. Nice Guy, but don't confuse that with wet noodle. He fights with resolve for the things he believes in: education, social justice, public safety, the environment, consumer protection and cultural diversity--even (and especially) when there's nothing in it for him. The consensus from both sides of the aisle is that Steinberg's positive influence may be just the cure for what ails the state and couldn't come at a better time.