AUBURN - Timothy Lattimore took the job as mayor to give back to the city where he had so many of his life experiences.

“I want to leave it better than when we found it,” the 57-year-old said.

Lattimore recognizes he didn't accomplish everything he set out to as Auburn mayor, but hopes he at least set the bar higher for the incoming mayor, Michael Quill.

Today marks Lattimore's last day as council leader, a position he narrowly lost to the retired Auburn fire chief in November. He plans to attend Quill's inauguration Tuesday to pass the baton. Councilor-elect Gilda Brower also will be sworn in Tuesday. The director of Montessori School will take councilor David Dempsey's seat, as he also lost in his bid for mayor to Quill.

Lattimore appreciates the time he's had in office, but realizes the public asked for a change.

He blames part of his defeat on the timing of water and sewer increases, which residents saw before the election but were informed about in June.

“All the sudden, they looked at their bills and said ‘That's outrageous,' Lattimore said. ”They got mad.”

The change taking place the first of the year will create a different balance in council, leaving councilor Matt Smith as the only Republican.

“People were scared. They want change, but it's change they fight,” Lattimore said.

Lattimore is disappointed about the council arrangement, suggesting the council needs contrasting political parties to inspire new ideas. The one-term mayor switched parties himself, leaving the Democratic Party for the GOP in the 1980s.

Halfway through his term, the election of councilors Smith and William Graney created a voting majority with Lattimore, a first for him. Lattimore hopes he left them with the knowledge to ask questions about proposals and agreements that cross their path.

His unsuccessful try for re-election focused on energy, but kept facing issues from his past. Controversy has occasionally dotted his career, from questions about his involvement with Auburn-Cayuga Development Corp. to the commonly known Brawl at City Hall, to championing a casino, and the latest talk of the town, reciting the serenity prayer at the start of council meetings.

Quill earned the Cayuga County Democratic Party nomination after Dempsey forced a primary. Dempsey still ran for mayor under the county Independence Party banner.

“Mathematically, with two Democrats on the ticket, I thought the results would be different,” Lattimore said. “With Michael coming out of the primary with beating Dempsey so badly, the light bulb didn't go off in my head.”

On the Thursday the count became official, Lattimore knew he would have a short time left as mayor.

That night's meeting, the serenity prayer “popped” out of his mouth, he said. He didn't plan on saying it, but with his family taking up a few rows in the audience and his loss fresh in his mind, the father of four called on God to give him the strength to accept things he can't change, to change what he can, and wisdom to know the difference.

The American Civil Liberties Union voiced issues with him saying the prayer at council meetings.

“It was an emotional time. I needed a little extra push,” Lattimore said. “Every time I've asked for help, He's answered.”

Lattimore's secretary, Marie Didio, also will be out of a job Tuesday. She too called on prayer, but for her, it was before accepting the job as secretary.

The former Red Star employee received the position through the word of mouth. Didio prayed about the job, which at that time had a negative reputation. When she toured the Red Star office one last time, she saw a photo of a company truck in front of city hall, and took it as a sign. She has worked with Lattimore for nearly three years.

“It's been great. He's the nicest guy; there's the side of him that is unbelievable,” Didio said. “He loves this city.”

Sometime Lattimore would take care of parking tickets when people complained. Instead of voiding them, he would pay them from his pocket. She was shocked to see him work 60 to 80 hours a week, trying to go to every city event he could.

Didio has received phone calls at their first floor office about missing welfare checks, traffic tickets, and problems with cable.

“I think they think the mayor is the one that solves all the problems in the city,” Didio said.

Some people may not understand the mayor's role, and that's one thing Lattimore regrets.

He wishes he had offered more explanation for his decisions, both to residents and the media. One such incident he was mum on at the beginning was the physical altercation with Dempsey.

Asked how he came back from the fisticuffs that made national news, he quickly responded, “I didn't miss a day.”

Before that, he took a 12-year hiatus after serving as a city councilor before re-entering the world of politics.

“It's a tough business to be in” Lattimore said, adding it's hard on families, too.

And he will come back from the mayoral defeat, he says.

“I've learned more from my losses than my wins,” Lattimore said. “It's a learning process whether in my personal life, my business life or politics.”

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or

jessica.soule@lee.net

Lattimore's resume

The following is Timothy Lattimore's career in public office

1987-1991: Served on Auburn City Council until he unsuccessfully ran for re-election.

2002: Challenged state Assemblyman Gary Finch but had his petitions to run first as a Democrat then as a Republican thrown out by the state.

2003: Won the position of Auburn mayor over Democrat Chuck Mason, Conservative Greg Rigby and Independence Party candidate Art Wenzel.