Two people battling local government top WBEN's list of the Most Fascinating People of 2008.

Attorney Kevin Gaughan and Developer Carl Paladino rank first and second on the list; different in personal styles, but similar in their passion and outspoken criticism of local government.

While Gaughan is  a Harvard educated attorney in fact and demeanor, Paladino remains a son of Buffalo's Lovejoy section with a more blue-collar appeal. Both are outspoken in the need to change the way local government does things.

 To compile the list, WBEN surveyed over 100 people for nominations, reminding them of our definition of fascinating: People who are known, but still unknown and demand more public attention. 

"We asked them for people who's name most anyone would recognize, not the obscure hero doing something great," said WBEN's Dave Debo who coordinated the project. " And I told them that  fascinating doesn't always mean likeable, thinking we could find people who folks either love or hate, but are always intrigued by." 

Each member of the WBEN News Team then ranked the nominations selecting their own  top three, with point values for first, second and third places each used as a way to compile the total list.

Gaughan earned his spot by speaking in forthright and colorful ways about the need to downsize local government, asking them to press for a referendum on downsizing, and spearheading citizen efforts to do so, when they didn't comply.

This year, Paladino faced the possibility of a city council  censure for his regular- if not politically correct-- remarks about the level leadership he sees coming from City Hall and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. Undaunted, he also launched a series of open letters and broadcast commercials, calling for the state to remove the Buffalo City School board.

Guaghan and Paladino sit atop a list that just like Buffalo, includes an emphasis on sports, politics, and the arts.