Jessica Berg became executive director of the Lodestar Day Resource Center, a one-stop service center for the homeless, in 2006. She came to Phoenix in 2005 as a National Urban Fellow, a fellowship that is part of a graduate program at Baruch College in New York City. Berg mentored with Maricopa County Manager David Smith.

Like many of her contemporaries, the 1960s left an indelible imprint on Sen. Debbie McCune Davis, a Democrat from Phoenix.

When Felecia Rotellini rejoined the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions in 2005, the state was in the throes of unprecedented growth.

Probably no public figure in Arizona inspires more devotion and loyalty from his supporters and more hatred from his critics than Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In a revealing Q&A session, the feisty lawman denies racial profiling, says 287(g) changes won’t affect his operations, clears up his relationship with Janet Napolitano and refuses to discuss SCA.

St. Johns resident and perennial lawmaker Jack Brown turned 80 this year, making him the oldest legislator in the state. Brown was a freshman lawmaker in 1963, the year the Beatles released their first album and “Dr. No” kicked off decades of James Bond movies.

Capitol veterans have taken notice of Andy Tobin. He’s in his first year as majority whip in the House of Representatives, but ask many of the lobbyists and others with a long tenure at the Capitol and they’ll tell you he’s handled what can be a difficult position with aplomb. Basically, his job is to ensure there is enough support for bills before they come to the floor and that lawmakers are present for votes - a heavy responsibility, considering his caucus has 35 members.

Kirk Adams was elected speaker of the House after campaigning on a platform of opening up the budget process to make it more transparent to lawmakers and the public. How well that was achieved has been debated throughout the session at the Capitol, but Adams maintains the Legislature is moving toward that goal.

Luis Heredia is a second-generation American who has risen through the ranks of the Arizona Democratic Party to become the organization’s executive director.

Between the recent cap-and-trade bill and the alternative energy provisions of the stimulus act, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has seen some of her top priorities take center stage in Congress this year.

Former-Rep. Eddie Farnsworth kicked up a great deal of dust in Gilbert last year when he decided to challenge long-time friend and fellow conservative Thayer Verschoor for the district’s Senate seat.

Farnsworth was narrowly defeated by Verschoor, who at the time was a favorite for Senate president. For the time being, Farnsworth said he is happy to be out of professional politics and doesn’t know if he will ever again run for office.