Forget the Oscars, the Emmys, the Tonys and the “best of” contests that other publications run.

Here comes the first annual “Best of the Capitol Mall” sponsored by the Arizona Capitol Times. It’s a snapshot of people, places and things that are being recognized for a particular trait, and they don’t necessarily qualify as a mover or a shaker. In the “People” category, winners are or were regulars in and around the Capitol scene, and generally they were surprised by the fact that they are top vote-getters in this first-of-a-kind contest, with at least one notable exception — and he died in 1998.

The only real reward for the winners is the knowledge that someone out there appreciates you for who you are or what you do or how you look. Out of respect for some of those who didn’t come in first, the Capitol Times will keep their identity confidential. Votes were cast by visitors to the Capitol Times Web site and in ballot boxes placed around the Capitol community.

Ballots for the 2007 contest will be solicited in August and will be available at www.azcapitoltimes.com.