My column is a little bit late this time because I wanted the dust to settle on the local mayoral election. It's still settling as of this writing.

Most of the time, I am given to putting my two cents in on regional, national and world events. Many of you have come up to me on the street to say "hey," or to slip me a "thumbs up" note about my contributions to "The News" as well. Thanks. For the most part, I try to stay away from home-grown grumbling's.

Seldom do I dabble in local fare. My grandma always told me, "Never use local apples when you're cooking up an apple pie for the town fair. Never know who owns the other orchard."

Sorry, Grandma - this one needs some coring.

This quandary of mine all started exactly four years ago during Mayor Davis's fifth and final election to that post. I can remember that election return night as if it were yesterday.

A bunch of us, mostly Mayor Davis's supporters and well-wishers, settled into a dark corner of a local tavern owned by some good local folks - the Jukebox. No pretence about the Jukebox - it is what it is and what it is seemed to fit that night - one pure note - "victory."

None of us sitting around doubted that Mayor Davis would win his last declared pass at the office. Why? Because Mayor Davis sat there looking at the song list on "Karaoke Night" for the right "victory song!" He didn't seem to have a worry in the world. Everyone at that Jukebox table had no doubts about it either - myself included. This was the Mayor's night.

But a funny thing happened. As the night progressed, more and more people around the table got up and left. Just left. At the time, I wasn't sure why for the reason of their departure. Perhaps they were as certain as the Mayor was as to the outcome of the race. He was running against a longtime time adversary in City Councilman and mayor pro-tem, Harold Fowler. I could tell in Mayor Davis's eyes that he had it won before the final tally.

Still. People left.

So, between stand-up performances at the karaoke mike, (the Mayor was actually pretty good with the right song), virtually everyone at our table left before the final election results came in.

When I came out of the men's room to sit back down at the table, I was surprised to see that the only one there was the Mayor himself - alone - listening to the returns his cohorts were barking back to him on his cell phone.

"Any news?" I asked.

With no one else around - the moment he found out - Mayor Richard Davis, of some nearly fifteen years in office, turned to me and said, "We won."

I truly felt happy for the man. I was even happy to hear his next song at the karaoke mike - definitely a country and western victory piece.

There are small and large victories in life. At that moment, I felt that this was no small victory for the Mayor. I felt humbled to share his moment. Still, I sort of envisioned it all going down another way.

"What was the final tally?" I asked.

"526," he said.

I'm thinking plurality. "You won by 526?" I said. "That's pretty close. Congratulations," I shot back.

"No. I got 526," he said and then ran up for an encore request at the mike.

I sat there alone - stunned. 526? I though this was Richmond Hill - a CITY?! Mayor Davis "won" with 526 votes? My last line at Disney World was bigger than that.

No doubt, my hearing was going. When he sat back down, I congratulated him again and found out that the final tally was indeed 526 him against Harold Fowler's 427. The plurality was in fact, 99 .

You could have heard my chin hit and rattle the rocks in my Jack on the rocks.

I did some quick calculations and came away with a sobering thought. Most of the folks who were eligible to vote in Richmond Hill - didn't. I was at a loss. Why? Was the win such a forgone conclusion? It couldn't have been a no-brainer, because Mayor Davis only won his fifth term in office by some "99" votes.

I let it all go until this last election - four years later.

Fast forward.

As you all know, this past Tuesday (Nov. 3) was the first race for mayor in nearly twenty years where the two contestants would be new to the office - new to the office, but not new to the inner workings of the City itself.