The power faded, however, by the mid-1970s, and over time, so did Bono’s affection for entertainment. In 1988, after encountering red tape over hanging a sign for his restaurant, Bono ran for mayor of Palm Springs, California, and won—despite having never registered to vote. In 1994 he was elected as a representative of the state’s 44th district, an office he held until 1998, when he died in a skiing accident. His fourth wife and widow, Mary Bono, was elected to finish his term.