Let us now praise famous men and women—such convenient, and often willing, receptacles in which to pour our expectations and frustrations.

Too convenient really. What will our readers do, for example, when Erie County Executive Joel Giambra leaves office? Will you all continue to make him a perennial finalist in the worst politician category? (Maybe so: Former County Executive Ed Rutkowski got a few votes for worst politician this year.) Or will you turn back time, to the day when he was a perennial finalist in the best politician category? Certainly, whatever his political missteps, the county executive does not deserve a place among the finalists in the biggest local villain category, alongside Bucky Phillips and Altemio Sanchez. Neither do Pano or the Seneca Gaming Corporation, for that matter. Let’s take a step back, people, and gain some perspective.

Your votes for local heroes and cheerleaders, on the other hand, seemed well considered. (Though gadabout Eric Starchild received a surprising number of votes for biggest local hero, as did “me” and variations on “who cares” and “aren’t any.”) Considered as partners or separately, Buffalo Police Officers Patty Parete and Carl Andolina were on a lot of people’s minds.

As were the Buffalo Sabres, who routed every category in which they could possibly compete. Owner Tom Golisano placed in two categories all by himself: biggest local cheerleader and biggest local hero. Maybe, for the sake of Ralph Wilson and the Bills, we need to hold a Best of Buffalo poll in late autumn. As it is, the Bills received a scattering of votes from disgruntled fans for favorite local amateur team.

On the media: Except when the voters made their intentions crystal clear, we dropped votes that might have resulted in Artvoice making the final five in any category. So, for example, a lot of you voted generally for “Artvoice” for best print journalist; alas, we are individuals and not a collective, but we thank you for the compliment (or, as the case may be, for the brazen attempt to win a prize package). Our own Mike Niman placed anyway, along with a clutch of writers for the Buffalo News. Meanwhile, the voting for best blogger and best Web site was plagued by the same confusion as always: As an illustration, Buffalo Rising is not a blog, or a blogger—it’s a Web site that hosts a community of contributors, staff and non-staff. Newell Nussbaumer, inasmuch as he writes tirelessly for Buffalo Rising, qualifies as a blogger. Right? Fix Buffalo and Buffalo Pundit are blogs, but the utility and popularity of both as sources of information sort of blur the line. Right?

Confusing. But Best of Buffalo voting is often a nightmare to decode. In a result that nearly derailed the whole Best of Buffalo enterprise, Sanjaya-style, car dealer Billy Fuccillo almost made the final five for best drag queen. Or maybe we don’t know everything you all know.

—geoff kelly

The Buffalo Sabres

best politician

Sam Hoyt

Brian Higgins

Satish Mohan

Byron Brown

“none of the above,” “they all stink,” etc.

worst politician

Tom Reynolds

Joel Giambra

Byron Brown

George Holt

“all of them, “it’s hard to imagine a bigger pool of contestants,” etc.

best individual activist

Harvey Garrett

Michele Johnson

Kevin Gaughan

Ani DiFranco

Aaron Bartley

best activist group

Women in Black

Citizen Against Casino Gambling in Erie County

PUSH Buffalo

Western New York Peace Center

AIDS Community Sevices

biggest local hero

Patty Parete

Carl Andolina

Tom Golisano

Ryan Miller

Ani DiFranco

biggest local villain

Altemio Sanchez

Ralph “Bucky” Phillips

Joel Giambra

Seneca Gaming Corporation

Pano Georgiadis

loudest complainer

James Williams

Phil Rumore

Joel Giambra

Sandy Beach

Donn Esmonde

loudest cheerleader

Byron Brown

Tom Golisano

Brian Higgins

Newell Nussbaumer

Kevin Gaughan

best draq queen

Vanity Vogue

Malibu

Fantasee Island

V

FYA Valentino

best drag king

Buddy Lee

Mikey Lykesit

Geo Metro

Jim Class

Bud Wyzer

favorite pro athlete

J.P. Losman

Maxim Afinogenov

Daniel Briere

Ryan Miller

Baby Joe Mesi

favorite pro sports team

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Bandits

Buffalo Bisons

Buffalo Destroyers

The Queen City Roller Girls

favorite amateur sports team

UB Bulls Mens Basketball

Queen City Roller Girls

Niagara University Purple Eagles Basketball

Canisius College Golden Griffins Mens Basketball

Canisius College Golden Griffins Womens

Basketball

favorite amateur athlete

Jonny Flynn,

Niagara Falls High School basketball

Metal Mistress,

Queen City Roller Girls

Mia Mauler,

Queen City Roller Girls

Josh Hedinger,

Canisius College hockey

Yassin Idbihi,

UB basketball

favorite tv personality

Jodi Johnston

Kevin O’Neill

Don Paul

Chesley McNeil

Mary Alice Demler

favorite radio personality

Sandy Beach

Tom Bauerle

Shredd & Ragan

Janet Snyder

Bulldog

best print journalist

Mike Niman

Donn Esmonde

Jeff Simon

Jerry Sullivan

Bucky Gleason

best blogger

Newell Nussbaumer,

Buffalo Rising

Alan Bedenko,

Buffalo Pundit

David Torke, Fix Buffalo

Paul Visco, estrip.org

Jennifer Smith,

All Things Jen(nifer)

best local web site

estrip.org

buffalo.com

buffalorising.com

buffalogaybars.com

artvoice.com