Donna Danner

Local 328's Donna Danner, 48, a tireless and awesomely productive volunteer for Oregon Council 75, died suddenly of a brain tumor soon after the election. Not only did Danner personally register more than 1,000 voters, she also became a near-legend by performing similar feats: obtaining the most signatures on a petition to increase the state minimum wage; bringing in more contributions than any other Oregonian to AFSCME's own PEOPLE campaign.

"Wherever we did work like that, Donna did the most," says Mary Botkin, the council's political coordinator. "She was an inspiration to everyone."