BEST PEOPLE

Bartender

Craig Doepker (Mac's Bar)

Runners-up: “Inky” (Chrome Cat) and Megan (Rookies)

Craig Doepker (pronouced “depp-ker”) has become a fixtureof the diverse Lansing music scene — he also has really cool/wild hair. Afteralmost three years at Mac’s Bar, the bartender finds himself at the grittymusic venue more than ever. “If I’m awake, I’m there,” Doepker said. “I’m thereat 9 a.m. getting deliveries, plus I’m the janitor. But I love it.” The Owossonative, who has lived in Lansing since 1999, said when he’s not pouring drinksat Mac’s he writes and performs original electronic music under the aliasTheatre of the Absurd.

Environmentalist

Jessica Yorko

Runners-up: Pat Lindemann and Cecilia Garcia

Jessica “walk and bike” Yorko isn’t your typical greengreenie. Her most high-profile environmental causes have gone after flaws inurban design, as opposed to, you know, getting people to upgrade their lightbulbs (but that’s part of it, too). And, now, she’s wields the power of beingLansing’s Fourth Ward Councilwoman. “One of the ways I like to be anenvironmentalist is to make cities vibrant and attractive, while simultaneouslysupporting the preservation of natural resources,” she says.

2010 gubernatorial candidate:

Virg Bernero

Runners-up: Ted Nugent and Ben Hassenger

Wow, Andy Dillon must be in serious trouble if locals preferthe Nuge and a local musician possibly doing a Doc Dart impersonation better.But, there is no doubt mid-Michiganders have only Bernero in mind to lead thestate (because if you don’t, he’ll get angry at you).

Local politician

Virg Bernero

Runners-up: Joan Bauer and Jessica Yorko

Yup, if you want a classic politician, Mayor Virg Bernero isyour man. He wins the hearts and minds, raises the money, and pounds the fleshlike no other. He won reelection last year in a landslide, and he’s poised tomake a good showing as a 2010 gubernatorial candidate.

Radio personality

Tim Barron

Runners-up: Mojo and Josh Strickland.

You never know exactly what to expect from Tim Barron’smorning show on 92-X. Perhaps he’s in the midst of analyzing the latestpolitical developments. Maybe he’s interviewing a local actress about the showshe’s in. Or he could be sharing all the gory details from a report on howdifficult it is to destroy those marshmallow-y Easter Peeps in a laboratory.But you know the conversation will always be lively and, on those rareoccasions when he doesn’t feel like talking, Tim is happy to cue up a classiccut from Journey or The Rockets to keep the morning moving. 6-9 a.m. weekdaymornings on WQTX-FM (92-X).

TV personality

Jason Colthorp

Runners-up: Jane Aldrich and Andy Provenzano

It’s the second win in a row for WILX newscaster and Lansingnative Jason Colthorp, who is about to celebrate 10 years with the station thissummer, a rarity in a profession in which talent often bounces from station tostation and network to network. But Colthorp did get a chance to step away fromhis home base last summer when he won a contest to co-host an episode of “LiveWith Regis & Kelly.” “It was amazing fun,” Colthorp says. “More fun than Ithink I’ve ever had with my clothes on. It was really neat to step up to thebig leagues, so to speak.” But Colthorp is perfectly happy to be back in theCapitol City, where his wife teaches school in East Lansing and he coaches his10-year-old daughter’s soccer team. He calls his entire career “aspur-of-the-moment thing. Really everything I’ve ever gotten — boom — it justhappened. But can I say thanks to everybody who voted for me?” Sure thing, Jason.Weeknights at 11 p.m. on WILX (channel 10).

Spartan athlete

Kalin Lucas

Runners-up: Draymond Green and Magic Johnson

Poor Cool Hand Lucas. He was sidelined because of a rupturedAchilles’ tendon — the gruesomeness of that injury gives us the sweats — andhad to watch from the bench as MSU lost to Butler on Saturday in the FinalFour. But he still stands tall, leading the Spartans in points per game,assists, field goals, free throws, and led them to the NCAA finals last year.