Best Athlete
KILLIAN TILLIE, GONZAGA BASKETBALL
2nd PLACE: Corey Kispert, Gonzaga Basketball; 3rd PLACE: Michael Chiesa, UFC
Best Elected Official
BREEAN BEGGS, SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
There are politicians who achieve popularity by making their enemies look like monsters and then there are politicians who achieve popularity by portraying themselves as the Most Reasonable Person in the World. Breean Beggs is the latter — willing to present his opponent's arguments in rational-enough terms, but then explaining, in lengthy detail, why his preferred position is, in fact, even more reasonable, and don't worry he's got a complicated plan to make everybody happy. And now that he has the City Council gavel, he has the privilege of listening to hours of citizens scream at the council about taxes, homelessness and abortion. But like a Zen master, Beggs remains unflappable, almost serene, betraying no reaction to the chaos but an occasional soft word of correction and a hint of a half-smile. (DW)
2nd PLACE: Nadine Woodward, Spokane Mayor; 3rd PLACE: Kate Burke, Spokane City Council; NORTH IDAHO'S BEST: Steve Widmyer, Coeur d'Alene Mayor
Best TV Sportscaster
SAM ADAMS, KHQ
All sports all the time can't be that bad, right? Since helping launch the region's only all-sports and weather channel over at SWX, Adams has continuously earned the trust of Spokane's sports-rabid population. Whether it's local prep sports or nationally known teams like Gonzaga basketball, he's your man. (CG)
2nd PLACE: Keith Osso, KXLY; 3rd PLACE: Alyssa Charlston, KXLY
Best TV Weathercaster
TOM SHERRY, KREM
Spokane weather gives few guarantees and even fewer bright spots, but it feels like Tom Sherry giving the forecast on TV is one of them. An Inlander Best of Hall of Fame inductee in 2007, Sherry is always reinventing himself and keeping the weather fun and energetic, even when everything around him is changing. (CG)
2nd PLACE: Leslie Lowe, KHQ; 3rd PLACE: Kris Crocker, KXLY
Best Radio DJ or Team
DAVE, KEN & MOLLY, KZZU
For some, the wafting aroma of ground coffee gets them out of bed in the morning. But for music fans of the modern Top-40 variety, starting the day with Dave, Ken & Molly on KZZU does the trick. Hosting daily from 6-10 am, this trio is a bottomless pit of jokes, games and banter galore. (MS)
2nd PLACE: Jay, Kevin and Slim, Coyote Country; 3rd PLACE: Gary Allen, Rock 94.5; NORTH IDAHO'S BEST: Victoria Frederick, KPND
Best TV Anchorperson
STEPHANIE VIGIL, KHQ
With a smile of gold and not a hair out of place, Stephanie Vigil delivers news weekdays at 5, 6 and 11 pm. Her welcoming and inviting demeanor accompanied with a true passion for storytelling make her hard to take your eyes off of when she's behind the desk. Did we mention she's won a few Emmys? (MS)
2nd PLACE: Kalae Chock, KHQ; 3rd PLACE: Sean Owsley, KHQ
Best Activist/Activist Group
PEACE AND JUSTICE ACTION LEAGUE (PJALS)
Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane is a grassroots community organizing group that frequently speaks up in local politics. The anti-war group seeks to build a nonviolent world, and it does so by coordinating community events and engaging the public. (WC)
2nd PLACE: Spokane Riverkeeper; 3rd PLACE: (tie) Fuse Washington, The Lands Council, Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR); NORTH IDAHO'S BEST: Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA)
Best Pop Culture-Inspired Painter
TRAVIS CHAPMAN
I'm no art snob or connoisseur. Nor do I know much about art history or styles; I'd like to think I can accurately describe impressionism, but don't test me. But I also like to hang quality paintings, drawings and photographs in my home. They're nice to look at. And if I could afford it, I would buy all of local Spokane artist Travis Chapman's paintings (or at least prints of them). Frequently comical and inspired by pop culture, his work makes bizarre concepts like Edgar Allan Poe dressed as a cop look like age-old classical masterpieces. (JOSH KELETY)
