We don’t ordinarily name the winners of the Best of Buffalo contest until the big party at Town Ballroom (Monday, April 14, free to all, with lots of food and live music), where we reveal and celebrate all the top vote-getters. But I don’t think I’m giving too much away by revealing who did not win a specific category this year.

The worst politicians never die; they only fade way. Thus Joel Giambra—despite a still ample campaign war chest that affords him a continued, if quiet, presence on the local political scene—has finally ended his reign as Western New York’s most loathed politician. Giambra snatched that crown from Buffalo Mayor Tony Masiello in 2005, after the county budget fiasco that gave Albany the excuse it needed to saddle us with what is ironically called a “control” board.

Now Erie County’s former county executive has become a lobbyist (which suggests a new Best of Buffalo category for next year) who conducts his business far from public scrutiny, in conference calls and pricey Manhattan restaurants. And so the people have turned their jaundiced eye to a new prince of darkness.

Who is it? With so many promising finalists—Frank Clark, who’s had a conspicuously crummy year; Chris Collins, who’s new to this game; Tom Reynolds, after whom the trophy for this category ought to be named—I don’t want to give it away. Come to the party on Monday. But I will say this: Giambra won the booby prize three years running, whether he deserved it or not. Often he took flak, and credit in the good times, for the deeds of folks close to him—folks for whom there is no AV Best of Buffalo award.

That’s not fair to the Steve Caseys of this world, and we know that. So here’s to you, Wonder Boy: We give credit were credit is due. We hope your boss does, too.

But enough politicians.

“It’s the people,” they say, when they try to explain what makes Western New York special. Regular people. People who look around this town and try to make a difference; who seek to entertain or inform; who can’t, despite their better angels, ever just shut up. Our readers are remarkably loyal, love them or hate them, to personalities in this town. Apart from Chris Collins, the only first-time nominees are in the Unsung Hero category: Buffalo Police Detective Dennis Delano, who is hardly unsung, having consumed barrels of ink at the Buffalo News and hours of TV news time; US military personnel overseas (some voters named specific soldiers, some offered a blanket endorsement); and—I think an inspired choice—the man who blows bubbles from his apartment window at the corner of Elmwood and Allen.

—geoff kelly

Unsung Hero Dennis Delano Carl Paladino The Allen Street bubble man Mark Goldman US military personnel Best Activist Group Buffalo ReUse PUSH Buffalo WNY Peace Center Women in Black Planned Parenthood of WNY PUSH Buffalo Best Drag King Bud Wyzer Jin Klass Geo Metro Amy Isaacs Adam Bomb Best Drag Queen Fantasee Island Fya Valentino V Vicky Vogue Jaymee Coxx Best Individual Activist Ani DiFranco Kevin Gaughan Harvey Garrett Tim Tielman Aaron Bartley Best Local Blogger Newell Nussbaumer Alan Bedenko David Torke Sean Kennedy Joe Illuzzi Best Local Politician Brian Higgins Byron Brown Chris Collins Sam Hoyt Jimmy Griffin

Best Print Journalist Jerry Sullivan Donn Esmonde Jeff Simon Jeff Miers Michael Niman Best Radio Personalities Janet Snyder Shredd & Ragan Sandy Beach Bulldog Larry Norton Best TV Personalities Don Paul Chesley McNeil Mary Alice Demler Victoria Hong Don Postles av editor pick Best Contact Sport Queen City Roller Girls This year we cut the Best Amateur Sports Team category, unwittingly disallowing a vote for the Queen City Roller Girls, who won by a landslide last year. Favorite Amateur Athlete went by the wayside, too, and with it the title awarded to Mia Mauler (of the Nickel City Knockouts). So here’s an honorable mention—the least we can do—for the ladies of the flat track roller derby: the Nickel City Knockouts, the Devil Dollies, and the Suicidal Saucies. —k. o’day Biggest Cheerleader Newell Nussbaumer Brian Higgins Byron Brown Tim Russert Marti Gorman Loudest Complainer Frank Clark Phil Rumore Tim Tielman Ralph Wilson James Williams Worst Local Politician Byron Brown Joel Giambra Tom Reynolds Frank Clark Chris Collins Mayor Byron Brown