The citzens of Mecklenburg County, preferring the real world to quackery, are beginning to demand an end to the long run of county commission's preoccupation with homosex.

They have spoken clearly in recent polls conducted the Charlotte Observer, saying, in various representative cases, that the commission has allotted far too much attention to homosexuality and far too little to more important issues facing local communities.

In fact, only 14% of those polled felt homosexuality ought to be a high priority. Over half of the poll's respondents placed the topic—one that has paralyzed other area debates for months—as one deserving only a low priority.

More pointedly, perhaps, thirty-one percent said it should be an extremely low priority. Twenty-three percent of the North Carolina county's citizenry allowed same-sex issues what they called "medium" priority.

Ousted in a purge of the commission was the chairman, Parks Helms, a Democrat accused as supportive of a gay candidate.

Some politicians are already promising they won't talk about gays any more. They're backing away from all such discussions. Newly-installed Republican chairman, Tom Bush, says he's not going to allow the county's leadership to get distracted, especially since there are more pressing problems that need addressing.

"The issue of homosexuality," he promises, "will be very low priority." Crime, traffic, and other pressing details of urban life will return, he says, to center stage.

The ousted Democratic chairman Helms, was not, it appears in the Observer poll, hugely unpopular. Thirty-six percent wanted him to remain, while only 29 percent welcomed his Republican replacement. Twenty-four percent didn't know enough to comment, and eleven percent refused to show a preference for either politician.

Helms told the Observer: "I think even in the very conservative religious community, there are many who believe the discussions on this issue have distracted us from doing the things we really ought to be doing."

Conservatives, the poll reported, provided an affirmation of Helms' insight.