With every election there are winners and losers, beyond the candidates on the ballot. Now that the absentee ballot dust has settled, here is the first of a series of four columns on the winners, losers and other observations from Election 2007. Today: The Winners.

KATIE LACEY: Despite scathing editorials on this page, numerous letters to the editor and cutting comments in the Two Cents section of this paper, the biggest winner this election year is Cayuga County Democratic Chairwoman Katie Lacey. A little over six months ago it looked as if her party would go down in flames with a divisive primary for mayor. Instead, she was able to recruit ex-Auburn Fire Chief Michael Quill and Gilda Brower for Auburn City Council to have a clean sweep at city hall, even if it did go to absentees for Quill. She was able to pick up one county legislative seat in the city (but lost one in the county - see Friday's “Losers Column”). While Democrats had a good year last year, with wins for Congress, county judge and sheriff, many didn't believe this type of perfect storm could occur twice in a row.

THOMAS MCNABB: While this column isn't about who won or lost elections, City Councilor Thomas McNabb was also a big winner - not so much for winning what may be an unprecedented fourth-consecutive council term, but because many now see him as the “power broker” at city hall. While the new mayor may be the face of city hall to come, it will likely be the council's most senior member who sets the tone of what occurs. It will be interesting to see how he deals with City Manager Mark Palesh. While others have been criticized for the “revolving door” at City Hall, this is the sixth either acting or permanent manager who has served during McNabb's 12 years at city hall.

CHUCK MASON: Many were surprised, if not critical, of the role of the former Democratic mayoral candidate, and now Cornell graduate school student, played as the “Democratic pit bull,” first against his former city council colleague David Dempsey and then his former opponent Tim Lattimore. He played this role years ago and it cost him his re-election in 2001. This time around he may have earned himself some chits with his former Democratic Party colleagues, especially with the narrowness of the win.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION : While it is easy to point fingers over why the reform referendum lost, i.e. a lack of media attention (news stories on it did not run until less than a week before Election Day and no candidate was asked about it in numerous forums), the winners are the three commissioners who, as seen earlier this month, will do as they will, empowered by what is seen as a stamp of voter approval.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com