SnagAJob.com’s Shawn Boyer, Ash Daniel photo
Most Stylish Richmonder, Female
Pam Reynolds Pam Reynolds, whose approach to style is legendary, says, "I'm very surprised, delighted and honored. But, in truth, Richmond really does have some stylish, attractive people." But for Reynolds, it isn't just the way you look but how you treat others. "Style is writing thank-you notes after an event, for example. Or put a better way, it's about being genuine and gracious." 2. WWBT 12's Sabrina Squire 3. WTVR 6's Stephanie Rochon
Favorite CEO
SnagAJob.com's Shawn Boyer Boyer, chief executive officer of the hourly-job website, was humbled by this honor. Like all good leaders, he dishes off some of the love to his team: "I am so incredibly blessed to be a part of such a great company and to work alongside the most engaged and fun group of people you can imagine." 2. Bobby Ukrop 3. Jim Ukrop
Best Local Business Blog or Website
Richmond Biz Sense richmondbizsense.com Aaron Kremer saw a hole in local business coverage, so he decided to fill it — with a product that is ahead of the competition a lot of the time. Kremer, a Times-Dispatch alum, is excited about the hiring of reporter Michael Schwartz, formerly of Landmark Communications-owned Inside Business. In July, the site launched a pay wall, behind which lies "real nitty-gritty business info." 2. The Yarn Lounge 3. Locally Owned Richmond
Best Local Public Servant
(Tie) Kathy Graziano and Mayor Dwight Jones Graziano, who represents the Fourth District and is the president of City Council, says, "I guess I've worked very hard for my community. So has the mayor." The mayor replies, "I'm honored to be recognized along with Kathy Graziano. She is a trusted public servant who works hard ... on cultivating relationships within our region." 2. (Tie) Del. Jennifer McClellan; Gov. Bob McDonnell 3. James River Park Manager Ralph White
Best Local Twitter Feed
@genecoxnbc12 At press time, WWBT 12 anchor Gene Cox counted 1,667 followers of his declarations on Twitter. Like: "Bee got in my car as I left home. Got it out about ten miles away. He probably wonders where the hell he is." "I try to avoid serious thoughts, and also obvious ones," he says of his succinct observations. Lest you forget, Cox is also a master of the English language beyond 140 characters: The guide to grammar he penned, Six Pigs in a Tub, is available now. 2. @ryanobles 3. @thecheckoutgirl
Future Governor
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli Cuccinelli's office issued a two-word response about his recognition: "No reaction." Perhaps Mr. Cuccinelli is tired of the press, given the not-always-flattering coverage devoted to his climate change petition; his lawsuit against the health-care-reform bill; and his letter advising the state's colleges to rescind their policies banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. On the other hand, those positions make him an attractive candidate in much of the state. 2. U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor 3. Lieutenant Gov. Bill Bolling
Best Local Afternoon Radio Show
Doc Thompson on WRVA Sandwiched between Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, Doc is a breath of fresh, local air on WRVA 1140 AM, an increasing rarity these days. He takes calls, chats about interesting topics (the other day, he asked what was on listeners' bucket lists), and, of course, breaks for traffic news, weather and commercials. (You also may have heard him fill in for Glenn Beck in the morning from time to time.) 2. Big Oldies 107.3's Tony Booth 3. All Things Considered on WCVE
Best Local Columnist/Critic
The Richmond Times-Dispatch's Michael Paul Williams Williams has appeared on both sides of the Best & Worst register — in 1994, he was a "winner" as the "Local Newspaper Columnist Who Makes You Want to Tear Up the Paper." One quality he'll never want to be accused of is having "middle-of-the-road" views. "That'd be kind of like getting described as ‘old,' " Williams says. 2. The Richmond Times-Dispatch's Melissa Ruggieri 3. The Richmond Times-Dispatch's Andy Thompson
Biggest Local Publicity Hound
Doug Wilder Memo: Wilder is no longer in public office, and he's mostly out of sight. His personal blog, Wilder Visions, stalled after its initial post on Dec. 31, 2008. If you continue speaking of him, you give him power. Let's move on to the next socio-political regional disaster, whatever that is. Thank you. 2. Alicia Rasin of Citizens Against Crime 3. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli
Best Local Facebook Fan Page
Locally Owned Richmond Andrew Phinney, an electrical contractor, started the site in January to help make small businesses more accessible. "It's tremendous. People are still joining and using it. We have like 14,000 fans of the page. A little overwhelming." Quite a few merchants told Phinney they found new clients via the page, and other businesses have used it to make connections to one another. 2. Things to Do in Richmond 3. Carytown
Best Local TV Weather Person
WWBT 12's Andrew Freiden Between the hottest spring on record and the snowiest winter, Richmonders have been discussing the weather a lot this year. And Freiden, WWBT 12's morning forecaster, has been happy about it. "That was an excellent winter, and it was long overdue," he says, ducking the brickbats some of us may want to hurl for such a comment. The only things he could wish for are thrilling summer thunderstorms — all sun makes for a "boring pattern." 2. WWBT 12's Jim Duncan 3. Former WWBT 12 weather person Tom Patton
Future Mayor
City Council President Kathy Graziano Graziano laughs at the notion of sitting in the mayor's seat. "Just goes to show people's love for the South of the James farmers market," she says by way of explaining the Best & Worst voters' confidence. Graziano helped shepherd the Saturday-morning food-and-fun event into existence. Despite her lack of mayoral interest, Graziano acknowledges that sitting in the mayor's seat would add to her varied résumé. 2. (Tie) WWBT 12's Gene Cox; Del. Manoli Loupassi 3. Jim Ukrop
Best Local Giveaways Online
(Tie) RichmondMom.com and WRIC's Half Off Richmond (wric.halfoffrichmond.com) "Wow!" exclaims Katie W. Hall, who runs RichmondMom.com, which often gathers online votes to see who receives a particular prize package. "RichmondMom.com loves spoiling our readers, and we appreciate the Richmond businesses that help us do it." Of WRIC's price-fighting arm, general sales manager Bob Peterson says, "Why, thank you very much." Polite folks, these giveaway gurus. 2. 98.9 Liberty's Web site 3. Lite 98's Web site
Best Local Morning Radio Show
The Bill Bevins Wake Up Show with Shelly Perkins on Lite 98 Something about the Lite 98 duo makes voters smile — that comfort level that Bevins and Perkins have achieved. "We are work spouses," says Perkins. It's "not all love and roses," she says, but Bevins is great about one thing in particular: remembering Perkins' anniversary at the station each year. 2. Richmond's Morning News with Jimmy Barrett on WRVA 3. Elliott in the Morning on 102.1 the X
Best New Face in Town
Nutzy Christina Shisler, the Flying Squirrels' spokesperson, has the privilege of "interpreting" for the team's mascot. She says Nutzy is thrilled by this honor. "It has been so much fun meeting all the Flying Squirrels fans out there, and he loves being out in the community and interacting with families and children of all ages." Judging from our trips to The Diamond, he also likes leaping tall stadium barriers in a single bound. 2. Martin's 3. VCU President Michael Rao
Best Local Hero
Firefighters Richmond Fire Chief Robert Creecy emphasizes that firefighters don't have a red "S" under their uniform shirts. What they possess is training, equipment and a desire to help. And, yes, they can be adrenaline junkies. Creecy explains: "People drawn to the profession enjoy the challenge of arriving at a crisis and assessing within moments the solution, and constantly re-analyzing and making changes until something works." 2. Police 3. WTVR 6's Mark Holmberg
Best Neighborhood Blog
Church Hill People's News
chpn.net
The original neighborhood blog in Richmond is still the best, voters say. And it does have a very engaged community while staying "a civilized place," according to founder Jon Murden. But you don't build an audience overnight, he notes. In 2006, CHPN, then two years old, really took off when a string of burglaries hit the neighborhood, and neighbors' posts began supplying details.
2. Hills & Heights
3. Downtown Short Pump
Best Locally Produced Public Radio Show
A Moment in Time
Dan Roberts, the voice of the WCVE history minute A Moment in Time , wants readers to know that even on vacation, he's keeping his job in mind by calling from the Wright Brothers Memorial. In its 18th year, the program is in no danger of running out of material. Roberts, a University of Richmond history professor, says the show succeeds because "people love to hear stories."
2. Out O' the Blue Radio Revue
3. Wordy Birds
Best Local Up-and-Comer
Trevor Dickerson
When the Short Pump shopping center with the movie theaters and a Barnes & Noble let its "DowntownShortPump.com" domain name expire in 2004, Dickerson bought it for $8 and started posting news. The 22-year-old is a VCU mass-communications senior who also runs Web-design firm RVA MediaWorks. "What I try to do with my website is demonstrate and build community."
2. Style Weekly drinks columnist Jack Lauterback
3. (Tie) WWBT 12's Evrod Cassimy; the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Andy Thompson
Best Local Political Blog or Website
Buttermilk and Molasses
floricane.typepad.com
John Sarvay, who founded Buttermilk and Molasses in 2002, isn't so comfortable with the label of "political blog," dear voters. "My stance is that I'm more of a social blog," says the strategic-planning consultant. Sarvay posts items on local media, downtown renewal, gardening, baseball — pretty much anything that strikes his fancy.
2. Decision Virginia
3. Tobacco Avenue
Best Local Food Blog or Website
Caramelized OpiNIONS
rvafoodie.com
Not to abuse culinary metaphors unnecessarily, but Jason Guard knows how to stir the pot at his food blog, a mix of home recipes and occasional inflammatory restaurant reviews — including a Carytown-heavy list of eateries to avoid. "I like to see critical thinking, and one way to do that is to push people's buttons," Guard says. "Even if some [commenters] are out for my blood, so be it."
2. Richmond.com
3. Brandon Eats
Best Local Television Personality
WWBT 12's Andrew Freiden
Even though he talks about the weather and can't do anything about changing it, for the second year in a row our readers voted WWBT's Andrew Freiden tops. "I'm excited about it!" he exclaims. It's the morning meteorologist's 10th year in television. "It beats baking bagels back in the '90s," he says, referring to his first job after graduating from college, then adds with a chuckle, "but I still have to get up early."
2. WWBT 12's Sabrina Squire
3. WWBT 12's Gene Cox
Most Stylish Richmonder, Male
Aaron Gilchrist
He left us this spring, and perhaps delayed shock caused respondents to vote for him anyway. He's now an anchor/reporter for WRC-TV, Washington, D.C.'s NBC affiliate.
"I'm surprised and flattered that Richmond hasn't forgotten about me," Gilchrist says. "And I have to thank the many NBC 12 viewers who called or e-mailed over the years to herald or bash my tie choices. Every little bit helps."
2. (Tie) Lite 98's Bill Bevins; Snag
AJob.com CEO Shawn Boyer; WWBT 12's Andrew Freiden
Best Radio Personality
Lite 98's Bill Bevins
Whatever the radio category — voice, morning-broadcast personality, you name it — Bevins has been the vote leader in this survey for "What, 19 years?" he wonders aloud. "But who's counting?" He still sounds surprised, and with online voting, anything could've happened. "You don't expect it, but if it didn't happen, I'd be a little bummed," he admits and laughs. "But what're you going to do? When you get tired of winning, let me know."
2. 103.7 The River's Melissa Chase
3. Big Oldies 107.3's Tony Booth
