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Best of the Capitol


Event: June 27, 2023

Arizona’s marquee party, Best of the Capitol is a light-hearted evening event that honors the people and groups engaged in Arizona politics in more than 30 categories, including Best Elected Official, Best Lobbyist, Best Dressed and Best Twitterer.
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NOMINEES
Best Elected Official – Republican

John Kavanagh
Michael Carbone
Gail Griffin
Teresa Martinez
Janae Shamp
Steve Kaiser
JD Mesnard

Best Elected Official – Democrat

Jennifer Longdon
Analise Ortiz
Marcelino Quinonez
Amish Shah
Anna Hernandez
Katie Hobbs

Best Debater – Republican

John Kavanagh
Michael Carbone
Teresa Martinez
Ken Bennett
JD Mesnard

Best Debater – Democrat

Analise Ortiz
Anna Hernandez
Mitzi Epstein
Lupe Contreras
Eva Burch
Lorena Austin

Best Bill Sponsor

Matt Gress
Amish Shah
Michael Carbone
Gail Griffin
Teresa Martinez
Steve Kaiser
TJ Shope

Toughest Bill/Hardest Sell

SB1600 – Infants; born alive; requirements
SB1122 – Transportation tax; election; Maricopa county
HB2731/SB1306 – Local groundwater stewardship areas
HB2509 – Food preparation; sale; cottage food
SB1601 – Breast examinations; cancer screenings; age
SB1117 Housing; infrastructure; regulation; administration
HB2457 Anesthesiologist assistants; licensure

Best Committee Chair

John Kavanagh
Gail Griffin
TJ Shope
Sine Kerr
Ken Bennett
Travis Grantham

Best Activist

Stuart Graff
Anna Hernandez
Dana Marie Kennedy
Yassamin Ansari
Analise Ortiz
Rivko Knox

Best Lobbyist

Matthew Contorelli
Brandy Petrone
Alexis Glascock
Gretchen Jacobs
Marie Isaacson
Jeff Sandquist
Meghaen Dell’Artino
Tom Farley
Kathy Senseman
Jen Marson
Kelsey Lundy

Best Lobbyist Under 40

Shaun Rieve
Luis Acosta
Luke Douglas
Jessie Armendt
Emily Raymond
Alex Mendoza

Best Government Lobbyist

Dale Wiebusch
Anthony Casselman
Jen Marson
Jason Baran
George Diaz
Jeff Gray

Toughest Lobbyist To Go Against

Gretchen Jacobs
Kathy Senseman
Tom Farley
Barry Aarons
Wendy Briggs
Kelsey Lundy

Best Lobbying Firm

Goodman Schwartz
Veridus, LLC
The Aarons Company
Willetta Partners
Demenna Public Affairs
Highground
Compass
Tri-Advocates

Best Dressed

Marcelino Quinonez
Steve Moortel
Sine Kerr
David Livingston
Alma Hernandez
Angelica Terrazas

Best Capitol/Political Lawyer

Gretchen Jacobs
Eric Spencer
Andy Gaona
Christopher Kleminich
Tim Fleming
Alexis Glascock
Tim La Sota
Roy Herrera
Brett Johnson
Mary O’Grady

Best Capitol Staffer

Elizabeth Douglas
Kelsey Jahntz
Selianna Robles Chang
Jenna Lyon
Liam Maher
Linsey Goodwin
Grant Hanna

Best Political Rising Star

Jennifer Longdon
Michael Carbone
Teresa Martinez
Analise Ortiz
Paul Aguirre
Bobby Charette
Joe Barba
Eva Burch
Lorena Austin

Most Likely To Run For Congress

TJ Shope
Athena Salman
Andres Cano
Alma Hernandez
Justine Wadsack
Jake Hoffman
Laura Pastor
Betty Guardado
Daniel Hernandez

Most Quotable Politico

John Kavanagh
Stacy Pearson
Sonny Borrelli
TJ Shope
Andres Cano

Best Power Broker

Michael Haener
John Kavanagh
Ben Toma
Warren Petersen
Katie Hobbs
Joe Wolf
Chuck Coughlin

Best PR Person

Analise Ortiz
Matthew Benson
JP Martin
Matt Grodsky
Barrett Marson
Mike Scerbo

Best PR Firm

Veridus LLC
Gordon C. James
Matters of State Strategies
Marson Public Relations
HMA
Lavidge
Rose + Allyn Public Relations
Highground

Best Twitterer

Justin Heap
TJ Shope
Andres Cano
Beth Lewallen
Barrett Marson
Garrett Archer

Best Industry Trade & Professional Association

National Guard Association of Arizona
Mosaic
Greater Phoenix Chamber
Arizona Association of Community Managers
Arizona Association for Economic Development
Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

Best Industry Trade & Professional Association leader

Paul Aguirre
Traci Gruenberger
Todd Sanders
Debbie Rudd
Carrie Kelly
C. ‘Reggie’ Elam

Best Non-Profit

Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona
Arizona Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs
U.S. Vets
Center for the Rights of Abused Children
CASS
March of Dimes

Best Non-Profit leader

Jackie Halleen
Cheyenne Walsh
Jennifer Gewarges
Darcy Olsen
Lisa Glow

Best Grassroots Efforts

Analise Ortiz
Alma Hernandez
Oscar De Los Santos
Flavio Bravo
Melody Hernandez

Best Political Action Committee

The Arizona Chapter of NAIOP Independent Expenditure PAC
REALTORS of AZ PAC
Worker Power PAC
Residents for Accountability
Arizona Pipe Trades 469
Realtors Association PAC

Best Candidate Campaign

Rachel Mitchell
Adrian Fontes
Michele Pena
Katie Hobbs
Kris Mayes
Juan Ciscomani
Kimberly Yee

Best Campaign Manager

Jeanne Lunn
Nicole DeMont
Margaret Dugan
Savannah Drake

Best Campaign Commercial

American Focus PAC
Liz Cheney’s The Great Task PAC ad on Kari Lake, Mark Finchem
Arizona’s Side by Mark Kelly
AZ – Brianna by Senate Majority PAC
Finchem as Jan 6 organizer by Arizona Democratic Party

Best Pollster

First Strategic
Data Orbital
Public Opinion Strategies
Noble Predictive
Highground

Best Lawn Event

Ceres
Charters at the Capitol
SRP Day at the Capitol
Special Olympics Arizona
Arizona Farm Bureau AgFest
Arizona Dude Ranch Day at the Capitol
Arizona Association for Economic Development

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