Earlier this week, that platform helped Daniel Stewart, a Republican, narrowly defeat Plattsburgh's five-term mayor, Clyde Rabideau.

And, as Buchanan's five-term mayor, Alfred J. Donahue, said, "It's always something, no matter where you live."

Barbara Bobo, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress, is the former five-term mayor of Millport, Alabama.

She was also the wife of Carter Harrison, Jr., five-term mayor of Chicago.

Mr. James, a five-term mayor, said that he needed two bodyguards because "Brazil is a hot spot for crime - everybody knows that."

He was a five-term mayor of Joliet, Illinois, the fourth largest municipality in the state after Chicago, Aurora, and Rockford.

Named after Arthurt N. Roberts, a five-term mayor who died in 1986, it is the centerpiece of Roberts Lake Park, a city park.

He became the first five-term mayor in the history of Somerville.

He has said for months that he will run only if the five-term mayor, Sharpe James, does not.

Last week, the five-term mayor of Bridgeport, one of the nation's most financially troubled cities, was found guilty of taking bribes in excess of $500,000.