Starting Monday, candidates for this year's elections can legally begin circulating their petitions. After talking to several regulars in both major political parties there are not many names floating out there for this November, especially when it comes to what could normally be considered competitive elections, especially in the city of Auburn.

Usually the most talked about races locally, unless there is a countywide office in play (see Friday's column on County Treasurer James Orman's race for re-election), are the seats up at city hall. One Democrat, William Graney, and one Republican, Matthew Smith, are up for re-election to second terms. Unless they are going to be challenged from within their own parties - both incumbents believe there are some of their own party members who would like to see them off the ballot because they work so well with each other on a number of bipartisan issues - both parties will have to find a candidate to run with them or two to challenge them.

So far on the Democratic side of the ledger the only person who has been making noise is Cherry Love Duncan, who ran two years ago. Though she did not win in a primary against incumbent Thomas McNabb or first-time candidate Gilda Brower, she is seeking her party's nomination this year. She has been an irregular attendee at city council sessions and has had a steady stream of letters to the editor since her first run.

The GOP seems to have a “mystery” candidate to run with Smith.

It is not a very well kept secret that former mayor and city councilor Timothy Lattimore has been talking about a possible run this year, and he may be that “mystery” candidate. With a well known name and a constant campaign mode - he should not be counted out, even with his two previous re-election losses.

This concerns his supporters more than his opponents.

As has been noted in a prior column - his two biggest supporters on the council were Graney and Smith - both of whom are up this year and seeking re-election.

For the former mayor to win, at least one of them has to lose.

In the end it will be interesting to see if he does run this year or keeps his powder dry for another run two years from now either for city council in 2011 or more likely tries a re-match against Mayor Michael Quill, to whom he lost a close race in 2007.

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