What is it that makes Asheville what it is? The answer seems obvious to all of us who've decided we love it, right? As David Wilcox sang, "Leave it like it is, never mind the turpentine; leave it like it is, it's fine." Of course David left town, finding his it elsewhere. Oh, David.

To judge by historic Best Of polling, Xpress readers change their minds slowly. For example, Rep. Charles Taylor has been at or near the top of the list of local villains for years, and Vice Mayor Carl Mumpower nabbed the number-two slot for the second year running. But subtle change is afoot: Mayor Charles Worley managed to bump Sheriff Bobby Medford out of his perennial villainy slot this go-round.

At the same time, we seem to have a love/hate relationship with Carl, who got the nod from enough voters to move back up the ladder in the best politico race, finishing just behind fellow City Council members Brownie Newman and Holly Jones.

In fact, love/hate seems to figure heavily in this Best Of section, including as it does traffic jams, reasons to leave, "favorite" villains and even the lapses of judgment in our questionnaire. And whatever glory this writer might find in finally moving to the top of the heap in the "Rabble rouser" race is heavily tempered by readers' desire to drop the category from next year's poll. I think I'll hold a sit-in to protest.

-- Cecil Bothwell

Best place to get stuck in traffic

1. Downtown Asheville

2. Patton Ave.

3. (Tie) Tunnel Rd.

3. Biltmore Ave.

Best place to watch people

1. Downtown

2. Pack Square

3. Pritchard Park

Best Neighborhood

1. West Asheville

2. Montford

3. North Asheville

Best Reason to live in Asheville

1. Mountains

2. People

3. Diversity

Best Reason to move

1. Lack of jobs

2. (Tie) Pollution and Air Quality

2. Cost of Living

3. Tourists

Local Politician

1. Brownie Newman

2. Holly Jones

3. Carl Mumpower

Local Villain

1. Charles Taylor

2. Carl Mumpower

3. Charles Worley

Rabble-rouser/gadfly

1. Cecil Bothwell

2. Hazel Fobes

3. (Tie) Don Yelton

3. Robin Cape

3. Wally Bowen

Unsung Hero

NOTE: No clear winner

1. Leni Sitnick / Johnny Yarborough / Asheville Police / Charlie Flynn-McIver / Corinne Kurzmann