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Don Novey, former President of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, is accredited for being “the best thing that ever happened to prison guards” in the state of California.

Novey, a legendary figure, is almost as famous for his personality as for his political achievements. Many know him as “the man in the fedora,” referring to his trademark head-gear. He identifies himself as a “fifth generation Polish Californian.” He loves boxing. His wife, Carol, works at the Post Office. They live in a tract home outside of Sacramento. He earns his correctional officer’s salary of $59,000 plus a matching salary for his job as union president. One reporter characterized the 54-year old dynamo as “an impressive combination of prison guard moxie, wonkish intellect and unassuming charm.”

Some at the Capitol call him “Colombo” referring to his pre-union days when he worked in the army as a military counterintelligence agent, allegedly posing as a German artillery officer in the Eastern Bloc. According to Novey, “It was cutting-edge, James Bond kind of stuff.”

Upon his return, Novey followed in his father’s footsteps, taking a job at the Folsom State Prison in 1971. He ran for president of the union in 1980 and worked both jobs until 1986.

How could one person have so much influence on a union and California politics?

• Novey’s Motivation
  “It was about setting an agenda for a profession that’s been somewhat maligned and forgotten because they’re behind the walls of these prisons… I wanted to do something about it.” —Don Novey
• Novey’s Vision
  “Don had a vision of the Cinderella castle we wanted to reach, and little by little we’ve built the road to get there.” —Jeff Thompson, CCPOA Legislative Director
• Novey’s Reputation
  “If Don Novey ran the contractor’s union, there’d be a bridge over every puddle.” —Dan Schnur, Republican Strategist
• Novey’s Political Strategy
  “If you have an open door with an administration, you can do creative things. A lot of the money that was spent by our group was to get that door open.” —Don Novey
  “Don’s not afraid to spend on a losing cause if he thinks he’ll get someone’s attention.” —Senator John Burton
  “He doesn’t like to be told he’s wrong; it’s his way or the highway. That’s no way to do public policy.” —Senator Richard Polanco
• Novey’s Complaint
  “For years prison officers were treated as second-class citizens, like in the old James Cagney movies, and now when we step up to the plate and hit a home run, people yell foul.” —Don Novey

Sources:
“Guardian of the Guards.” California Journal, March 1, 1997.
Warren, Jennifer, “When He Speaks, They Listen.” Los Angeles Times, August 21, 2000.
Butterfield, Fox, “Political Gains by Prison Guards.” New York Times, November 7, 1995.
Interview with Ralph Mineau, January 20, 2002.

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