My deepest thanks to my dynamic agent, Kimberley Cameron, for encouraging me and leading me in just the right direction in every way including introducing me to Alan Rinzler, whose skill set included teaching me to weave my stories together.
Kimberley also made sure I met my editor, Mauro DiPreta from Hachette Books, who has been a tough, talented, and wonderful teacher.
His team has been a pleasure to work with, including Ashley Yancey, Betsy Hulsebosch, and Michelle Aielli.
Also thanks to David Brody, who cheered me on and made sure I told the toughest stories in the most direct ways, and to Kevin Keegan, who brought to life the senators who held “my” seat since California became a state.
My deepest thanks to every one of my staff members throughout the years. From my first election to my last re-election—a period of forty years—these top staffers have worked their hearts out for our state and our nation.
Listed here are those top staffers who started me off when I got elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors in 1976, those who helped me when I won election to the House of Representatives in 1982, those top staffers who started me off in my first Senate office, and those top staffers who served on my Senate team in my last term. I include those on the Environment and Public Works Committee and on my campaign team. All of these are shining stars:
Jason Albritton, Tom Bohigian, Kelly Boyer, Sam Chapman, Zachary Coile, Grant Cope, Jackie DeNevers, Andrew Dohrmann, Joaquin Esquivel, Kate Gilman, Jana Haehl, Dan Hammer, Shannon Hart, Alicia Henry, Maggie Henderson, Ted Illston, Tony Intintoli, Claudette Josephson, Matt Kagan, Nicole Kaneko, Rose Kapolczynski, Mary Kerr, Drew Littman, Gloria Littman, Jim Margolis, Yvette Martinez, Kaye Meier, Mark Mellman, Sean Moore, David Napoliello, Gina Pennestri, Bettina Poirier, Karen Olick, Paul Ordal, Wyman Riley, Beatriz Rogalski, Tyler Rushforth, Laura Schiller, Elaine Shamir, Stacey Smith, Liz Tankersley, Peter True, Eric Vizcaino, Michael Weiss, and Urcel Williams.