Tonight the 17th Class of Leadership Cayuga will graduate at the Sunset Restaurant. The goal of this program is to help community leaders network and develop or improve their leadership skill set, so they can make a difference in our county. With more than 300 graduates over the last 15 years, the program has done just that.

Two weeks ago at the class's exit/wrap-up session, an issue again arose that has been creating an undercurrent of agitation over the last two years. Mayor Timothy C. Lattimore in 2003 made, as a centerpiece of his campaign, the issue of our community losing our "best and brightest" and talking about the need to "bring our kids home."

During the session at Casowasco, four participants, two raised in Auburn and two who moved here, debated the issue of the "cream" leaving our community. One born and raised here and another who emigrated noted that it seems that those who stay or move here are, for lack of a better term, "losers." Clearly that is not what the mayor is intending to say, but his continual harping on the subject and lack of clarity in his comments has created the distinct impression that this is what he means.

We can certainly be proud of those who do move on, because of opportunities elsewhere. But more importantly, we need to recognize that many who were born and raised here have decided to stay.

It might be that the mayor, and some others, can't see the forest through the proverbial trees. His perspective might be tainted by the fact that his three sons are not living in our community. But he need look no further than his son-in-law, Doug Springer, who with his brother Eric, has built Copper John. They decided to stay here. The mayor's nephew, Sean, and his wife, Beth, have made a terrific go of the Springside Inn. They decided to stay. The Cuthbert family has built the highly successful Community Computer Service. They could have moved their company anywhere. They decided to stay here and invest heavily in civic activities. Tom Herbert of Bo-Mer bought the local company and made it into an operation that has been recognized by the Small Business Administration. He decided to stay. And the list goes on.

People decide to stay here for a variety of reasons and our community can not be solely focused on the issue of those who leave, but on making sure that we can retain as many as possible and be proud of those we do, as well as those new citizens we attract.

By the way, of the Leadership Cayuga Class of 2005, about half of the class either wasn't born in Auburn or left for a time beyond college and came back here for employment, family or other reasons.

Congratulations and good luck to the Class of 2005!

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn. He can be e-mailed at cozguytho@aol.com