At the time, it was like "oh, that's interesting," in an "I will forget this in 30 seconds" sort of way. But as Michael Pahre notes, the fact that Sam Yoon (yes, our Sam Yoon) was named to the Democratic National Committee's Rule Committee in January now has some national implications: His committee has to decide what to do about Florida and Michigan.

Winner:

Loser:

Big winner:

Winner:

Guy whose picture I didn't happen to take at the Roslindale Day Parade:
John Connolly

Steve Murphy proved tonight he's the Model T of elected officials: He can get elected to anything as long as it's an at-large seat on the Boston city council. He came in second tonight, giving him one of the four at-large seats on the city council.

Felix Arroyo, meanwhile, proved that, on a rainy day, when not even 14% of registered voters show up, organization DOES matter, as in: If you don't have much of one, you're going to wonder what the hell happened.

And what the hell happened tonight was that John Connolly, who had an incredibly organized get-out-the-vote effort, especially in his home base of Roslindale and West Roxbury, simply got more votes than Arroyo (who came in second two years ago, which led to a brief Arroyo-for-mayor boomlet). If the flap over Connolly's anonymous anti-Murphy mailings had an impact, in the end, it didn't matter (except to possibly give Steve Murphy some sympathy votes).

Of course, above everybody else sits, again, Michael Flaherty. Not really a surprise there, and you know he already has people thinking what colors to use on the "Flaherty for Mayor" signs. The only question is whether he dares to take on Tom Menino in two years or waits until 2013 - when, who knows, maybe he'll be facing Sam Yoon, who also got re-elected tonight.

Of course, the big question is what this all means for actual policy making in Boston. Granted, we have a "weak" city council, which makes it hard for them to actually get anything done, but they do have the power to hold hearings and get to vote on the mayor's budget, so it'll be interesting to read in the GateHouse and college papers what happens (since we obviously can forget about the Globe and Herald writing much of anything about the council).

In other races:

Mark Ciommo beat Gregory Glennon to win the Allston/Brighton district council race by a roughly 60/40 margin (props to Michael Pahre for calling that margin). He takes over for Jerry McDermott, who moved out of town.

In Dorchester, Maureen Feeney easily maintained her position as the only woman on the council, swamping Michael Cote.

Charles Yancey did even better against J.R. Rucker in his Dorchester/Mattapan district.

It was Chuck Turner over Carlos Henriquez in Roxbury in another trouncing.

All other district races were uncontested.

Vote numbers from the city elections department.

John Keith explains why Yoon's proposal to have the city buy foreclosed condos - and to then put deed restrictions on them - is the worst idea EVAR.

And here the Dig points its snarky finger at you, Mr. Yoon. And at you, too, Mr. Yancey, for wondering about the conditions under which Tom Menino's proposed Giant Ear Thing (the device that can hear wet pieces of paper being shot out of straws in school lunchrooms from two miles away) might not work:

So where does freedom and openness leave the council? With Charles Yancey being able to wonder aloud whether Shot Spotter could detect shots before they were fired, and whether buildings and MOUNTAINS and stuff might mess with the receivers' signals. Because there are fucking mountains running down the middle of Geneva Ave, right? ...

Not so fast there, Mr. Turner. And hold on a second, Madame President Feeney ...

John Daley is not impressed with Sam Yoon's do-nothing-then-explode six-month career on the City Council.

Next Wednesday, at 11:30 am, The Boston City Council will be in session to vote on the budget. Councilor Yoon, as well as, Councilors Arroyo, Turner, and Yancey are prepared to vote against the budget unless it includes significant increases in appropriations for violence prevention and youth job opportunities.

They would really like to fill the chamber with activists to hold the Council accountable. The 4 Councilors hope to be able to force a 6-6 vote, which would bring the issue to the Mayor, who is not necessarily in favor of this happening. Councilor Yoon and the others, feel the increased funding is fiscally responsible but provides much needed support to the city's youth, who are suffering from the increased violence.

The Globe wraps up the results and quotes former City Councilor Larry DiCara that this mandate will let Menino restructure city government (as opposed to his previous mandates?).

The Herald also provides a wrap-up. Its former councilor of choice is Michael McCormack, who gets off a good one about the election being a replay of David and Goliath, only this time Goliath had a howitzer (note to bostonherald.com: Could you guys buy another hamster? The one powering your Web site this morning seems awfully tired). Hennigan tells the Herald she might run again.

On the City Council side of things, don't count on sweeping changes since only one newcomer (Yoon, profiled by the Herald) gained a seat. John Connolly got squeezed between the new-Boston Yoon supporters and the old-line Murphy voters. But while turnout among minorities once again rose (helping Yoon and Arroyo), yuppies once again largely sat on their oh-so-toned asses, dooming the campaigns of people like Susan Passoni and Gibran Rivera. All this leaves Adam at the Phoenix feeling let down.

Eileen McNamara says would-be Republican governor Kerry Healey could learn from Hennigan's failed bid - how to avoid being trivialized.

Polls may show dissatisfaction with the state of the city, but you wouldn't know it from the results - Menino beat Hennigan 2-1 - overwhelming not only the hapless city councilor but people who either voted for her or cast blanks as a protest against the nascent Imperial Mayor.

On the city council, the big news is the election of Sam Yoon to an at-large seat. First Asian-American to hold such a seat. Felix Arroyo came in second to vote machine Michael Flaherty. For me, the big surprise was Steve Murphy's re-election. After his shellacking in the sheriff's race last year, he seemed to be on his way out. Shows you what I know - and how important the union vote still is in this town. At the district level, South Boston's Jimmy Kelly easily swamped the South End's Susan Passoni, as West Roxbury's John Tobin did to Jamaica Plain's Gibran Rivera (hmm, imagine if, somehow, JP and the South End were joined in a single district).

So what's it all mean?

Adrian Walker hauls out the newcomer cliche column and doesn't say anything new about people like Sam Yoon and Susan Passoni, just that they are new.

Adam explains why he'll be voting for Hennigan, Arroyo, Yoon, Connolly and O'Malley.

The Globe looks at the at-large race as a preliminary for the 2009 mayoral election and at efforts by service unions to get out the vote for minority candidates. The Herald basically says there's an election tomorrow.

A lot of the stuff Hennigan says about cleaning house is pretty much identical to what a new Mayor Menino said in 1993.

Less than resounding endorsement from the Phoenix, but better than nothing: basically, Menino's gotten soft and tired and Hennigan's at least as qualified as Menino was 12 years ago. Also getting the paper's nod: Sam Yoon, John Connolly, Patricia White and Felix Arroyo. As well as Susan Passoni in the South End/South Boston, John Tobin, sort of, in JP and West Roxbury and Jerry McDermott in Allston/Brighton.

Hennigan also picks up the endorsement of Mel King

The Globe gets Menino and Hennigan to talk about education.