If this soft-spoken community activist ever wants to be mayor, he’s got a good shot at winning. The top-rated talker doesn’t preach, doesn’t shout. He just gets involved. In everything: historic sites, public trials, building fix-ups, landscaping, support of U.S. troops. He’s also the champion of street performers and vendors and got ordinances against them tossed out. Brennan is about to start his third decade at this CBS-owned “heritage” radio station.

Typical comment: “There’s a lot of socialism going on in the country with bailouts for banks, insurance companies. What about all the other businesses on the public dole that don’t get attention? Would you believe Walmart?”