READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: No More Ed Moore. He's no longer around to bend Pima County government to his iron--if somewhat twisted--will. No more weird legal schemes, bullying, juvenile name-calling, or costly reworkings of the county's organizational chart behind closed doors before commencing the unannounced firings of blameless bureaucrats who're only trying to do their jobs. No more buying million-dollar dump sites from friends and then not being able to open them. Sigh. We miss Ed Moore, one of our most colorful supervisors ever. Of course we weren't good enough for him. He deserved a better constituency--Tombstone in the 1880s perhaps, or certainly Boston in 1775. Some guys are just born too big for their times...which may be why our fearless former supe is masterminding a bedroom community called Casas Adobes. (They're stilling haggling over whether to identify themselves as "Casans" or "Adobeans.")

A REAL SCREAM: Bond approval for the Open Space initiative: When the Greater Tucson Chamber of Horrors, er, Commerce and the Southern Arizona Home Builders Ass. come out against an idea, you just know it's gotta have real merit. Thus voters were quick to approve this year's proposal to spend umpity-ump millions to acquire open space in and around the city. Yes, we can understand the Chamber and the Builders Ass. not wanting to tie up a few valuable tract-housing lots with something as unproductive as saguaros, ironwood trees, cute little Bambies and feathery creatures. But, hey, the voters have spoken: Quality of life requires sacrifice. So comply we must, even if it's not the most efficient use of our tax dollars (which, as the Chamber and Builders Ass. have consistently maintained, obviously should be going to subsidize the businesses of deserving rich people).

1998 Winner: The Sonoran Desert Protection Plan 1996 Winner: CAP Water In Washes 1995 Winner: CAP water turned off and recharge initiative turned on

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