Legislative Staff Tributes and Retirements.

NCSL salutes Glenn Koepp, a giant in the redistricting field who died last year, and three dedicated staffers who retired: Sheron Violini, Rick DeLeon and Stephen Klein.

Sheron Violini

Deputy secretary for operations, California Senate

Sheron Violini's interest in legislative work was sparked at a young age by the late California Assemblyman Eric Seastrand, who attended meetings of the 4-H Club Violini belonged to while growing up in rural Monterey County, California.

"Upon his suggestion, I attended the University of California, Davis and interned at the California State Capitol," Violini says.

After graduating, she took a full-time job in the Assembly as an office assistant. "It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up because I enjoyed the pace as well as the people."

She enjoyed the Legislature enough to spend 27 years there, earning a master's degree in public history along the way. In her work for the nonpartisan administrative office of the Senate Rules Committee, she helped ensure that Senate events, social media and constituent outreach complied with the law and Senate policy. She also assisted with the organization of ceremonial events, including oath-of-office ceremonies and memorials.

The most rewarding moment of her career was the creation of the Senate Training Office in 2012 to deliver joint training programs with the Assembly. "I was told it couldn't be done," she says. The office grew to help staff during transitions by providing resume writing and interview skill seminars and a series of mental health workshops.

When she could provide a solution for members and staff, she says, it was a "win-win."

Violini is the immediate past chair of NCSL's Leadership Staff Professional Association.

Editor's Note

This story is also available in the Winter 2022 print edition of State Legislatures magazine, NCSL's biannual dive into state policy, politics and personalities.

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Rick DeLeon

Sergeant-at-arms, Texas Senate

Rick DeLeon prides himself on his ability to work with others, and his resume brims with evidence of his teamwork skills, beginning with his service in the Marine Corps. Later, he spent eight years as a recovery diver with the Texas Highway Patrol.

"We searched for evidence used in the commission of crimes," he says, "but we also searched for and assisted flood victims and provided security well after the flooding." DeLeon assisted in the search and recovery effort following the explosion of the Space Shuttle Columbia...