ABOUT
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
Contact Michael Gorman for information on sponsorship opportunities.