About Us
Why do so many of California’s major corporations, labor unions, professional trade associations, political action committees (PACs), broadcast and print media, universities and libraries, along with elected officials, legislative advocates, political consultants and pollsters subscribe to the California Target Book?
Established in 1993, the California Target Book gives non-partisan, unbiased information to all who want to be kept fully informed and up-to-date on congressional and state legislative election campaigns in California. The online edition includes a comprehensive set of tools for keeping up-to-date on every aspect of California's political system.
Marva Diaz
Publisher
Marva Diaz is a public affairs and government relations professional with experience in both the public and private sectors.
She has served as a leadership staff member in the California State Capitol, managed the political affairs program for a prominent business association, and collaborated on the strategic planning of hundreds campaigns in multiple states, ranging from internal corporate campaigns to legislative races to ballot propositions.
Marva is founder/CEO of Marva Diaz Strategies, a partner at Spectrum Campaigns, and Publisher of the California Target Book, where she is the first woman and Latino to serve in this role in its 30 year history.
Rob Pyers began his involvement with the Target Book in 2015, tasked with increasing the amount of data available for online subscribers. Under his direction, the Target Book's databases have grown to include precinct-level voting data, FEC contribution data for all California federal candidates, legislator voting records, real-time campaign contribution and independent expenditure data for California legislative candidates, live election returns, and a growing amount of census data and voter registration information. Born and raised in Florida, he studied English and Political Science at Florida State and Washington & Lee University, and has called the Golden State his home since 2003.
Tony Quinn, Ph.D.
Senior Editor
Dr. Tony Quinn is an authority on California political trends and demographics. He served on the Assembly Republican redistricting staff in both the 1971 and 1981 reapportionments and advised Los Angeles County on the 1991 redistricting. He has been an expert witness in several redistricting lawsuits. He served three years as an assistant to the California Attorney General, is a former director of the Office of Economic Research in the Department of Commerce, and for five years served as a member of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Dr. Quinn has written extensively on California politics and elections, recent articles having appeared on Fox and Hounds and in the Capitol Morning Report.
Marty Wilson
Senior Editor
Marty Wilson is the executive vice president of public affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held for more than four years.
Wilson oversees all of the CalChamber’s public affairs activities, including the Public Affairs Council, a political advisory committee made up of the CalChamber’s major members; its candidate recruitment and support program; and its political action committees: ChamberPAC, which supports pro-jobs candidates and legislators, and CalBusPAC, which qualifies, supports and/or opposes ballot initiatives. He also serves as the CalChamber liaison to JobsPAC, an employer-based independent committee that supports pro-jobs candidates.
Wilson has almost 40-years of experience in California politics, playing leadership roles in the election and re-election of two governors and a U.S. senator. He also has orchestrated numerous successful ballot measure and public affairs campaigns.
In addition to his campaign experience, Wilson has served in government as a senior staff member at the local, state and federal levels.
Before joining the CalChamber, Wilson spent seven years as managing partner of Wilson-Miller Communications, where he also advised Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as head of the Governor’s political and initiative committee, the California Recovery Team.
Before founding his own firm, Wilson was managing director for Public Strategies Inc. in Sacramento for five years and held a similar position with Burson-Marsteller for six years.
Wilson has served as senior fellow for the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Affairs, board member for the California State Fair and director of the Coro Foundation, a public affairs training organization.
He graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in history.
Andrew Acosta
Editor
Andrew Acosta is the Founder of Acosta Consulting with over twenty-five years of experience in campaign management, press strategy, public relations and issue advocacy. Andrew understands how to combine research, coordinated outreach and targeted messaging into custom-built victories. From recall campaigns and special elections to statewide referendums and numerous independent expenditure efforts, Andrew is adept at navigating California’s ever-changing political landscape. Prior to founding Acosta Consulting, Andrew was a partner of Acosta|Salazar. He understands the inner workings of the state Capitol having staffed the legislative leadership in both the State Assembly and State Senate. A native Californian, Andrew played rugby at UCLA where he earned a degree in Political Science.
Robb Korinke
Editor
Robb Korinke is a veteran political consultant specializing in candidate and ballot measure campaigns across California and beyond. As the co-founder and principal of GrassrootsLab, he leads client and campaign activities in California, and specializes in state and local government candidate, ballot measure and public affairs campaigns. He has been recognized by the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) for his work in both direct mail and television advertising. He is the co-founder of CaliforniaCityNews.org, a co-editor of the California Target Book, and a Board member of the American Lung Association in Los Angeles. He lives in Long Beach with his wife, daughter and two dogs.
Carla Marinucci
Editor
Carla Marinucci, the founder of POLITICO’s California Playbook and a former POLITICO senior writer, has consistently been named one of the state’s leading political writers. In career spanning four decades, she has been honored as the state’s top digital influencer in political reporting for her work in seven presidential and gubernatorial elections, including the state’s historic 2003 recall.
Prior to launching POLITICO in California in 2015, Marinucci was senior political writer for the Hearst flagship San Francisco Chronicle, and before that political editor for the Hearst-owned San Francisco Examiner. In 2013, she was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists with a lifetime achievement award for her coverage of California politics.
Susan McEntire
Editor
Susan McEntire is the Vice President, Political Operations for the California Medical Association (CMA).
Prior to joining CMA, Susan worked in California State Legislature, both for the State Assembly and the State Senate. She has over two decades of experience in high-level state government positions and working in electoral politics. During Susan's longstanding tenure in the Assembly, she worked for seven different Assembly Speakers.
During her years working in the Legislature, Susan served as Chief of Staff to multiple legislators, served as a District Director and served in a number of roles for the Assembly Democratic Caucus: as a Consultant, Chief Deputy, and ultimately the Director. Her work took her to legislative districts across the State. She also served as the advisor within the Speaker’s office on elections policy.
After serving as the Director of the Democratic Office of Communications and Outreach, Susan became the Political Director for the Assembly Democrats political operation, where she had previously served as Statewide Field Director. As Political Director she was able to draw on her decades of experience running state legislative campaigns.
Evan McLaughlin
Editor
Evan McLaughlin currently serves as Political Director for California Professional Firefighters, the statewide federation of more than 180 local firefighter unions representing 35,000 professional firefighters. As Political Director, he manages CPF’s statewide political program and assists local firefighters’ electoral, advocacy, and public affairs campaigns.
In 2020, Evan founded MCSA, a Sacramento-based campaign, policy, and communications firm started after more than two decades of work in government, elections, and journalism. His experience includes service as Chief of Staff to the Assembly's Appropriations Committee Chair, leading the Assembly Democratic Caucus' statewide field campaign efforts, directing the San Diego Labor Council's political program, and launching the nonprofit Voice of San Diego news site as its City Hall reporter. Evan also served as Vice President of Redistricting Partners, which advised clients across California and 15 other states during the 2020 census and redistricting cycle.
Evan resides in Sacramento with his wife, Jenny Dudikoff McLaughlin.
Dan Morain
Editor
Journalist Dan Morain is the author of “Kamala’s Way, An American Life,” (Simon&Schuster 2021), the first biography of Vice President Harris, and is working on a second book. He was senior editor at Calmatters ending in 2020, columnist and later editorial page editor of the Sacramento Bee ending in 2018, after a 10-month stint as communications director for the Consumer Attorneys of California, and was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times for 27 years ending in 2009. He covered the California Supreme Court when Rose Bird was chief justice, the Legislature during Willie Brown’s final years as Speaker, and the governor’s office during Gray Davis’s administration. As a freelancer, he has written for the Washington Post, CNN.com, L.A. Times, Kaiser Health News, Capitol Weekly and others.
Stephanie Roberson
Editor
Stephanie Roberson founded Stephanie Roberson Strategies ("SRS"), in November 2022, epitomizes Roberson's distinguished 25-year career in California's government, legislature, and lobbying landscape, rooted in her advocacy for registered nurses at the California Nurses Association. Transitioning from roles under Democrat Attorney General Bill Lockyer to pivotal positions in the state legislature, she later became CNA's chief lobbyist and then Director of Government Relations, shaping crucial health policies and fostering strong ties within legislative circles and governmental agencies. Her tenure at CNA was marked by impactful contributions to labor, healthcare, reproductive rights, equity, racial justice, and nursing education policies, alongside overseeing the organization's political action committee. Today, SRS flourishes as a boutique, black-owned firm under Stephanie's guidance, leveraging her deep connections, purpose-driven approach, and unwavering commitment to achieving positive client outcomes, showcasing her legacy of strategic acumen and relentless pursuit of meaningful change.
Rob Stutzman
Editor
Rob Stutzman is founder and president of Stutzman Public Affairs, a Sacramento based firm specializing in campaigns, communications, crisis management and award-winning political advertising.
Rob was deputy chief of staff for communications to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In this capacity, he oversaw press, speechwriting and public appearances for California’s populist celebrity governor. He also served as co-communications director in the historic California Recall of 2003 that placed Schwarzenegger in office.
Rob’s current and past clients include Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and private firms spanning a multitude of industries including entertainment, technology, agriculture, manufacturing and consumer products.Previously, Rob logged a career working in state and national political campaigns and for elected officials. Notably, he served as communications director for the California Department of Justice and Attorney General’s Office.
Rob is a third generation Californian. He is a frequent speaker on California politics and public policy and regularly appears on television news shows as a political commentator. His opinion articles have been published in most major California newspapers, USA Today and The Washington Post.
Jelena Herrera
Communications Director
Jelena Herrera is an Account Executive at Marva Diaz Strategies, a Sacramento based public affairs and government relations firm, providing client management and communications. She is a Bakersfield native and was involved in multiple politically focused groups, most notably the Young Assemblymember's Program with Rudy Salas in 2018. She graduated from University of California, Davis in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In addition, Herrera joined the California Target Book team in 2023 and serves as the Communications Director. Prior to joining Marva Diaz Strategies, Herrera worked as an Administrative Assistant at Spectrum Campaigns.
In her free time, Herrera serves as a board member of the Sacramento Latinx Young Dems where she contributes to a growing and welcoming environment for all Latinx Youth interested in making a difference through action within their community.
Allan Hoffenblum
Founding Publisher
Allan Hoffenblum co-founded the Target Book with Al Pross in 1994. On October 2, 2015, he passed away peacefully at home. The current Target Book team will continue his work and forever recognize him as Founding Publisher. Allan was a major force in California politics for nearly five decades, starting in 1968 on the staff of the Los Angeles County Republican Party. He was a respected speaker, teacher and frequently quoted expert on California politics. An active alumnus of USC, a decorated Air Force officer who served with distinction during the Vietnam War, he was a wonderful friend, patient mentor, and gifted strategist. In 2017, he was inducted into the American Association of Political Consultants Hall of Fame. It is in his honor that we continue his work, producing the most complete resource possible for those who make their living in and follow California politics.
Al Pross
Co-Founder
Al Pross, a co-founder of the Target Book, was one of California's top political action-public affairs consultants. His clients included major business, association and union organizations. He was a top aide to Leo McCarthy while he was the Democratic Speaker of the Assembly. When McCarthy became the Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore, Pross served as his chief of staff. He later served as Vice President of Public Affairs for the California Cable TV Association and directed the California Medical Association's Political Action Committee, CALPAC. Mr. Pross also managed numerous Democratic campaigns for federal, state and local candidates and ballot propositions and was an independent expenditure specialist.
Darry Sragow
Publisher Emeritus
Darry Sragow is a veteran Democratic political strategist. From 1996 through 2002, he was the chief campaign advisor for the Assembly Democratic Caucus, reporting directly to the Speaker of the Assembly. He has also served as campaign manager for five statewide races in California, three for governor, and two for the U.S. Senate, and has managed a number of school and community college bond campaigns.
He is a Retired Partner with the international law firm Dentons, where he formerly served as Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office, and a retired Adjunct Assistant Professor of Political Science after 23 years teaching initially at UC Berkeley and then at USC.
He holds a B.S. from Cornell University, an M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. Cum Laude from Georgetown. Darry served as Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and went on to work as a U.S. Senate staffer with offices including the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.