Best Columnist

This category is always an interesting battle, with Dan Savage’s second crowning in three years unseating the Daily News’ page two boy, David Swick, ‘97’s Best Columnist. Maybe Dan’s exciting year—three local cops went around to businesses and encouraged them not to advertise in The Coast because of “Savage Love,” plus he journeyed east from his Seattle home to give a Halifax talk—put him over the top. Or maybe it was the gerbilling column.

Runner-up: David Swick