Best Political Scandal 2008

OK, given how we worded this category, perhaps it’s no surprise that construction on Guadalupe Street rose to the top of scandalous events for this year’s voters. Quick recap: Last winter, the city tore up the street, then it got really cold (as it sometimes does in the winter), work stopped, ruts froze and the entire area was a barely negotiable mess for drivers, not to mention the local businesses in the area. While the Guadalupe Street construction—and construction in general—garnered the most votes in this write-in category, there were several other hot topics, including: the fall-out from Gov. Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (the governor’s facial hair also garnered a few votes) and proposed oil and gas drilling in the Galisteo Basin.