With Election 2009 now part of the history books, here are some passing notes on last week's election.

Flip flop - In the city of Auburn, the 11th Legislative District that covers the northeast corner of the city is the equivalent of a political ping pong ball. It long had been a strong Republican area, being represented by both Chester Palega and Gerald Sincebaugh (uncle of current Democratic 15th District Legislator Daniel Sincebaugh) before the size of the Legislature was reduced. After the defeat of Palega in 2001, the seat went to Democrat William Catto and then Republican Linda Murphy, who lost on Election Day to Democrat Steven Barski. It will be interesting to see if Democrats can keep the seat in 2013.

Three wins, four losses - Democrats seemed to be confident that they could keep the seat they held in the Legislature in their column, even though incumbent Daniel Schuster was not seeking re-election and, more importantly, defeat former Mayor Timothy C. Lattimore, who many in the party' leadership can't stand. Instead, as he often does, Lattimore worked his tail off to win a district that Democrats have a significant registration edge in. With the exception of his first defeat in 1986 for Auburn City Council (which was a squeaker) he wins election very well - the challenge for him is getting re-elected.

A Grover Cleveland? - The one question that did not seem to come up this election year was whether Lattimore would try to take his seat back at City Hall in 2011 - when the man he was defeated by two years ago, Michael D. Quill, is up for re-election. That election was won by just 92 votes. It was not uncommon during this fall's election to hear the former mayor talk more about City Hall than the county, having several wonder if his real goal is not to be at 160 Genesee Street, but back at 24 South St.

If not him, who then? - If Lattimore doesn't run for mayor of Auburn in 2011, the question is, who will? The other name being floated around is City Councilor Matthew Smith, who did what no Republican has done since 1987 - won re-election to the council. As a historical side note, the last GOP councilor to be re-elected, also ran for mayor against another Lattimore, in that case Paul W. That was Edward Lauckern in 1983. With the GOP not fielding a second council candidate this year and not any two years ago, many wonder if the GOP will have viable candidates to run for mayor and/or council in two years. The hopes of the GOP may rest with what Lattimore and Smith decide.

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