The Capitol Fax Blog » Question of the day

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008

* It’s time once again to open nominations for our second annual Golden Horseshoe award.

Today’s categories are…

1) Best state legislative staffer

2) Best state legislative secretary/admin assistant

3) Best political bar/restaurant in Springfield (must be currently operational)

Please keep in mind that this contest is not just based on the number of votes, but on the intensity of each vote. So, if you don’t explain your vote, or don’t explain it well, it will have far less weight or not be counted at all, depending on my mood.

Also, no negativity and no snark. Thanks.

- posted by Rich Miller

58 Comments

- Carcetti for Mayor - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:11 am:
Rich-
For option #1, shouldnt you have 2 brackets? One for best Springfield staffer and one for best district staffer? There are several dedicated folks at district offices and capitol offices.

Maybe like in college football have 2 divisions: I and I-AA?

- JohnnyC - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:27 am:
1) Mike Cassidy
2) Bunny
3) Maldaner’s (restaurant), Sebastians (bar)

- GoBearsss - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:34 am:
I would suggest adding a category for “Best Constitutional Office Staffer.”

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:36 am:
GoBearsss, this is round one. There are plenty of other categories.

- Who Knows - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:45 am:
Steve Brown, nobody spins it better.

Sue Staley, she has the best jokes

Old Lex for restaurant, Boones beer garden

- Anon - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:48 am:
Who Knows, you must not live in Springfield. Boone’s is closed and was auctioned off on November 18th.

- GoBearsss - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:49 am:
That’s right, I forgot.

- Who Knows - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:50 am:
Really?!? That’s too bad. I was there last Spring and not been in the Patch since then. Since it was an active bar in 2008, I will keep it as my choice.

- Boscobud - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 11:59 am:
Judy at Paul Froehlic office. She is good.

- Anon - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
1) Dereck Persico - House GOP staffer
2) Marcia Simmons - Senator Munoz’s Office (she’s efficient and easy on the eyes)
3) No Name Bar

- ChiCountryGuy - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
1) Tim Nuding
2) ??
3) Sebastians

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:06 pm:
Explain, please.

- Boscobud - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:10 pm:
Judy knows a lot of people, and when someone walks in the office with a problem she knows exactly who to call and she doesn’t even think about it. She is so nice and she doesn’t treat anyone differently. Every time I go in the office I see flowers for her, and the cards say Thank You. She is one special lady.

- ChiCountryGuy - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:12 pm:
Tim’s knowledge of the budget process and knowledge of buget and appororiation matters is excellent. He is very friendly and accomodating.

Sebastians is the place to be during session. On any given night, when they’re in session, you a see variety of the who’s who in IL politics. Plus the food is good and the downstairs bar is a nice atmosphere.

- aidanquinn - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:13 pm:
1) Mike Cassidy, high energy, very intense, focused, and when assigned to anything he is like a tiger on a raw piece of meat. Great on campaigns also.

2) Nora Scandrett, anyone who candle handle working for Bradley and Hoffmann has to be the winner.

3) Saputos and Sebastians

- Anon 12:05 - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:14 pm:
I have always been impressed with Mr. Persico. He always asks for my opinion on a bill that affects my industry. He is a very thorough and competent staffer.

Marcia Simmons w/Senator Munoz’s office greats everyone with a smile and a kind word. I’ve yet to see her have a bad day. It makes your visit to Springfield easier when legislative assistants want to not only help you but do it in a pleasant manner.

The No Name Bar (at the Quality Inn across from the Capitol) is my favorite because adults (not the 22 year old teeny boppers) frequent the place in a warm, business like atmosphere.

- pie-in-the-sky - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:24 pm:
1. John Lowder
2. Bobbi Drew, Rep. Arthur Turner’s secretary
3. With no more Boones, then Browns.

- Out of Towner - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:28 pm:
1.) Giovanni Randazzo, the legal guy for Emil. Actually has a personality and is straight forward.
2.) Michelle Cody, Halvorson’s assistant. Always knew when it was ok to go into see the Senator from just the expression on her face. She also shares the office with DeLeo’s assistant who always has that big bowl of candy. (Hope she ends up in an office with a senator she likes).
3a.) The best bar to guarantee seeing legislators would have to be The Globe. Usually to just start off the night and its nice to finish there. And Katherine makes you feel like you are at Cheers.
3b.) Best political restaurant would have to be Saputos. Not necessarily for the pasta. The steaks, chops and sausage are great though. We all know who sits in the corner and its a sure thing to see dozens of legislators. It looks like the location has treated Cullerton pretty well also.

- Downstate GOP Faithless - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:29 pm:
boy, i can tell you there are two people have never let down anyone i know-and i know several people who have had occasion to work with them. first is for staffer-brandon g. from tom cross’s office. talk about a smart and hard working guy, he is it. unlike so many staff members, he is one always seems to have only the interest of his boss in mind (steve brown would be a close second for many of the same reasons). for best assistant, there is no reason to think beth goncher shouldnt repeat (unless of course there is a no repeat rule). she is sharp as anything, kind, compassionate-all the good buzz words…not to mention fun to be around…

- Its Just Me - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:30 pm:
1. Frank Straus on House GOP. Knows his stuff backwards and forwards and is friendly. Knows policy, knows politics, and is the smartest man I ever knew.
2. Hmmm, don’t really know any secretaries/LAs other than usual phone conversations. I can say which ones I don’t like, but will keep that to myself.
3. People may make fun of my choice, but I have to go with the Ratskellar at the State House because I can always get something fast and cheap, and their service is friendly. C’mon…for cafeteria food it’s not that bad.

- Tori - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:46 pm:
Boscobud & George…FYI Rep. Froehlich fired Judy the day after the election. I agree she was great - it’s a shame.

- Absentee Ballot - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 12:50 pm:
1. Shaw Decremer — To start, he’s a first-rate individual. He knows how to handle the floor, and works like a mule while avoiding self-promotion. And on campaigns, he just doesn’t lose. Honorable mention: Thomson, Manar, Lowder, Persico, Lisa Guinan, and Jo Johnson.

2. JoAnn Sullivan — One of the friendliest, most helpful individuals you will ever meet, period. Does anything else need be said?

3. If I had to pick out of the current options, I suppose I would choose Brown’s. I don’t have a great argument for any establishment, so if you want to disqualify this vote, Rich, feel free.

- It's Me - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 1:03 pm:
1. Mike Thomson: No one has won more politcial races besides Cullen.
2. Michelle Cody: SHe is informative and knows the ins and outs of the Seante operation.
3. Saputos: Where else can you go and see the Speaker, PresidentJones and the Governor at three seperate tables.

- Northshorer - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:00 pm:
1- Nia from Sen Dem staff- while she might be a little rough with folks some times, she has concise instutiional knowledge of Health & Human Services issues (if it where not for her knowledge, Obama would have been LOST when he was the chair of Sen HHS);
2- Marcia Simmons (sen. Munoz’s asst.) she is nice, professional and has done a lot for her Senator’s constituents, other Senators and other Assts.
3- the Old Lux hands down! Awesome steaks and topped with bleu cheese yum, yum! And cheap!

- Antimachus - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:06 pm:
I’d like to nominate J.P. Valadez from the Speaker’s Office for best legislative staffer. J.P. is a consummate professional who is always prepared, can speak intelligently on any proposal facing the House, will always give you his honest opinion and is, of course, one heck of a model American.

- Wogan rocks - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:23 pm:
Tom Wogan hands down. He’s like a sniper - he waits in the wings and when the moment is right he strikes and never misses.

- Carcetti for Mayor - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:24 pm:
I agree with Antimachus. I have always found JP to be a great asset to the House side, attentive to the politics of the issue and able to craft well thought out solutions.

Additionally, his contributions in the Farnham race need to be noticed. The guy is a mover for the Dems

- point of interest - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:26 pm:
I’d just like to point out that a person’s work in a legislative race should not be considered when deciding if the person is a stellar legislative staffer. The two are completely different types of work and require different skill sets.

Being a good campaigner does not mean you are good at legislative work.

- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:40 pm:
For Staff-I nominate HGOPers Nick Bellini and Nick McNeely. Because in an election year based on the concept of change, they got a 20-year incumbent who bailed a sex-offender out of jail re-elected.

Bar: Browns–the smoking ban makes it tolerable now and the free popcorn puts it over the top.

- Been There - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:54 pm:
===Being a good campaigner does not mean you are good at legislative work. ===
Are you serious? Most of these staffers you wouldn’t even know their names unless they were good campaigners. The ones that are good in the field get rewarded with the staff jobs that interact with the legislators to keep an eye on them. Their campaigning never ceases. Otherwise they would be stuck somewhere over at the Stratton building in a closet.

- Weighin' in - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 2:58 pm:
Disagree with point of interest. Campaign work is just an intensity test. If you can do it well, you can do anything well.

Q. 1)Shout out for JP Valadez. No-nonsense hard worker that focuses on the task at hand and doesn’t worry whether he gets the attention. Deserves a double shout for running consecutive campaigns with good showing in the 43rd, despite a late candidate change in ‘06. That’s diligence.

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:02 pm:
No personal offense intended, but nobody directly connected to the Farnham campaign is eligible. I have my reasons.

- Former Hack - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:20 pm:
Also have to disagree with point of interest, and agree with weighin’ in that campaign is an intensity test.

Further, if your staff job is message development, then the skills directly translate to campaign.

If your staff job is legislative strategy and as part of that you need to generate grassroots support, industry support, community support, etc., then it is directly translatable to/from campaign.

If your staff job is analyzing legislation, then it directly translates as well because working on a campaign you better be able to explain what the issues are or you’re toast.

Say what you want, but having been there, I’ve never met a good campaign worker who was a bad legislative staffer. While I might agree that we shouldn’t consider a person’s campaign work when voting on best legislative staffer, it is borderline ridiculous to say the skill sets are completely distinct.

- tell the truth - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:26 pm:
and why is it Rich that “nobody directly connected to the Farnham campaign” is eligible? explain please.

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:29 pm:
Because I said so.

- Publius - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:31 pm:
Rich - I have never known you to be arbitrary or capricious, this doesn’t sound like you.

- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:32 pm:
It’s neither arbitrary nor capricious.

- Lone Ranger - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 3:55 pm:
Back to the original question:

I would say John Lowder - no one nows the budget better than John.

For legislative assistant, either Judy Dowis - Senator Crotty’s office or Marcia Simmons - Senator Munoz’s office. Both are wonderful and extremely efficient. Plus if they won this coveted award it wouldn’t go to their heads.

Finally, I would have to go with the Plaza. It’s a great new bar where you can see many legislators and legislative staff unwinding after a long day at the Capitol.

- make my vote count - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 4:20 pm:
Well, I’d also like to nominate Jon Paul Valadez. He got one of the most honest state reps elected (Nekritz, of course) who finally brought issues of sustainability and renewable energy to the Illinois legistlature.

Beyond that, he’s organized, interesting and a dedicated worker. He’s passed up tons of fun opportunities to be at work (believe me). He’ll go to bat for people and issues that are important to him. That’s a great character trait. Oh, and he’s cute and well-dressed, too.

JoAnn Sullivan is a gem.

Boone’s.

- downstate hack - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 4:29 pm:
The Democrat senate staff
Republican House staff
D.H. Brown, after Boone’s is closed the only Brown with party leaders mingling with regular folk

- Smelly Cat - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:13 pm:
1). Any Senate Dem. staff person who ran screaming/looking for another job after Emil sold his soul to Satan & went to bed with GRod;
2). Any legislative assistant who is able to deal with throngs of screaming and yelling “one-day-advocates” for whatever group’s “Lobby Day” and were still able to smile at the end of the day;
3). Any restaurant/watering hole where one is the LEAST likely to run into ANYONE elected, their staff or lobbyists looking for the aforementioned two groups of people!

- Smelly Cat - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:17 pm:
Opps. typos in the above… #3 should read “… likeliest… aforementioned three groups…”

- Long time caller, 1st time poster - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:26 pm:
Mike Weir–good guy and can write some great mail
Sue Staley–I hear she is retiring. Any one who can work for her boss deserves employee of the year.
Deja Vu–where the party never ends.

- Randolph - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:29 pm:
Rich, quick question. Are we including staff directors in this? Seems like we shouldn’t since they’re management. When I think of “staffer” I generally don’t think of “Director.” Seems like that could be another category.

- point of interest - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:39 pm:
Sorry to start this, Rich, but I have to clarify. Only certain staffers work on campaigns, and when they do, it is not because it is part of their job. How many Senate appropriations staffers or Senate attorneys work on campaigns? The work they do is legislative work. How many House republican staffers work on campaigns? Hardly any. No one from the House dems research or legal staff worked on a campaign. I would say some of these people are the best legislative staffers.

- my picks - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:40 pm:
Legislative staffer: Senate Republican Analyst, Kim Fowler. She’s completely professional; if she doesn’t know the answer she finds it for you; she’s one of the most knowledgable people in this building.

Legislative Secretary: Speaker Madigan’s Assistant, Joann Sullivan. No question she has one of the hardest jobs in this building.

Legislative bar: The Plaza. People need to frequent it more often.

- Unspun - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 6:05 pm:
Staffer: Jim Dodge from SDems. He knows the law inside and out, is always helpful, and has a great sense of humor to boot.
Legislative Secretary: Cheryl Sakris from Sen. Althoff’s office. She is well-organized, polite, and gets the job done.
Legislative bar: Two Brothers. ’nuff said.

- Chambananon - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 8:12 pm:
For the staff and secretaries, I have to be honest that I’m not familiar with enough of the folks involved to give a “legitimate” vote.

But, in honor of my friend Joe Saputo, who passed away this past month, I’m making sure to put in a vote for the restaurant he founded with his twin brother Frank so many years ago.

Plus, it really is THE place to be for politicos in Springfield, on any given day — good food (personal fave for the price is the baked ravioli at lunch — you’ll be full all day), good atmosphere, and a legitimately huge number of folks that know the scene, and have been involved in one way or another in IL politics since the 50s and 60s.

RIP Joe, we’ll miss ya.

- Smelly Cat - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 8:41 pm:
point of interest - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 5:39 pm:
Ah, what planet are u from? I’ve seen God knows how many Sen Approp Staff & Lawyers in the field this cycle and last.

Still off subject, but I still think that the politics have NOTHING to do with the legislation side…. and this is from YEARS of experience!

- Boomshakalaka - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 9:25 pm:
Kristin Bauer from House Dem Staff: One of the kindest, friendliest, hardest workers I’ve ever met, both at the capitol and in campaigns (she rarely loses, if ever)

Kristen Milligan, sec. for Rep. Skip Saviano. For all the crap she puts up with. The busiest office at the capitol.

Restaurant: Sportsman’s: Best fried chicken and mashed potatos, and Rhonda works there three nights a week (one of the coolest people in Illinois)

- The Fox - Wednesday, Dec 3, 08 @ 10:27 pm:
1.Cindy Davidsmeyer - No need to ask why.
2. Pick-it
3. Wherever Mike decides.

- Okay Then.. - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 1:07 am:
If we’re doing campaign staffers than the discussion is over–Garrett “no sign” Kniffen. Boom.

- you're wrong - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 8:39 am:
point of interest: “No one from the House dems research” works on campaigns?

Are you kidding?

- Publius - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 9:26 am:
1) Nia from SDem staff - immense understanding of both the process and substance of the law plus patience = great staffer!
2) Tie: Roseann Visintin and Rhonda Wood - it’s hard to decide which of them is more on top of things for their Senators and both of them can smile at the most annoying lobbyist, even after a long day.
3) With the demise of Boone’s, DH Brown’s by default.

- Little Egypt - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 12:27 pm:
#3 - SAPUTO’S hands down. It’s been around for ages, Frank & Joe knew and were very connected to EVERYONE, and that’s why it was, is and will always be THE place to be. Joe’s wife Edda used to be one of the cooks way back when and she, Joe and Frank made the place what it is today. RIP Joe and Edda. Saputo’s deserves this award heads above all the rest. In fact, there should be a Springfield Political Restaurant Hall of Fame with Saputo’s being the very first inductee. You bet I’m partial and very unobjective on this one.

- anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 12:59 pm:
#1: Nia from Sen Dem Staff. Highly intelligent, compassionate and greatly respected.
#2: Micki Cody. Simply delightful and smart!
#3: Saputo’s, what a great ambience.

- anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 1:22 pm:
1 Nia Odeoti, the Senate staff. Nia is very smart and represents the Senate very well.

2. Mary Alice Cedusky. Sweet, smart and knows how to get it done!

3. Maldener’s, yum yum!

- Anon - Thursday, Dec 4, 08 @ 2:26 pm:
1. Staffer is Nia hands down. She is the best. She knows the issues and you can depend on her.

2.Mickey Cody-She is a great LA. She knows how to get things done and knows who to call to get things done. She has experience, knowledge and a great personality for constituents and lobbiests.

3.Not a big Saputos fan, but I think Sangamo Club is great even though its not public.

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