Mayors who've spent 4 decades in post

While Clarence Michalis might have set a state record for serving as mayor of Lattingtown for 43 years -- and counting -- two others have hit the 41-year mark.

One was Albany political machine leader Erastus Corning II, who died in office in 1983.

The other is Robert Blais of the Village of Lake George upstate. He is still in office but has said when he completes the remaining three years of his current term, he's retiring.

"He says he was born on the Fourth of July so he was destined for politics," noted Lake George Village clerk-treasuer Darlene Gunther.

While Michalis, 90, has never been paid for holding part-time office in Lattingtown, Blais, 75, works full-time and is paid $40,000 annually.

Lattingtown has 1,900 residents and no commercial development. Lake George has 905 year-round residents, but the summer population of the tourist destination explodes to more than 15,000.