The residents of Jamestown are a little richer this morning, but Mayor Steven Carlson may have gotten himself a political opponent in the process.

The wealth comes in the form of a gold record given to the city by members of the 10,000 Maniacs, the Jamestown rock band that is enjoying nationwide success.

The gold record is a symbol that the band has sold 500,000 copies of its second major-label album, In My Tribe.

"It's great," keyboardist Dennis Drew said after the ceremony, where jokes and camera flashes popped. "I never did anything like this. I feel good that we can say thank you.

"We had to present one gold record to the city of Jamestown," Drew said at the ceremony, "because we didn't have enough gold records to present to everyone who helped us."

Asked how she felt about the whole thing, singer Natalie Merchant replied simply, "absolutely exhilarated."

She provided the competition for Carlson.

In the moments before the presentation, when Carlson had left his office, Ms. Merchant took the chair behind his desk and announced that she would be the Italian-American candidate for mayor.

"This Svedish Empire is ended," she said. "We come to this country. What do ve get? A Svedish mayor."

Carlson arrived, putting an end to the coup with his acceptance of the record.

"I want to thank you very much for presenting this to me, representing all the people of this community," he said.

"We're thrilled with the publicity you've given Jamestown."

Carlson told how, at a conference, he had been approached from a downstate mayor who gleefully exhibited a headline from that city's newspaper. Carlson said the headline read "10,000 Maniacs Leave Jamestown."

Carlson said that the mayor wanted to know how the city had gotten rid of that many maniacs in one shot.

"We're really very, very proud of the success you've achieved and I know it comes with a lot of hard work," he said.

Carlson reminisced about the band's early days when it played for functions on the Tracy Plaza, and Ms. Merchant danced with abandon.

"A lot of us are beginning to wonder ... if our reputation is changing," he said.

Noting that the area has long been known as the home of Lucille Ball and as the birthplace of Roger Tory Peterson, Carlson said a third reputation might be added, "the home of the 10,000 Maniacs."

"We hope you have many, many more great albums. We will in fact gain that reputation," he said.

Carlson said the album will be displayed in the City Hall's lobby so that all residents can view it.

He told the members he was glad that "you think, enough of your hometown to present it to us and (to) share your success with US."

In return, Carlson presented the band members with brass paperweights with the city's seal.

"I thought they were little keys to the city, " Ms. Merchant said.

"It closes so early," said bassist Steven Gustafson. "Natalie stays up so late."

There were also paperweights for the, producer of the album, Peter Asher, and the band's manager, Peter Leak, both of whom were at the ceremony.

"I'm very proud to have this," said Asher, adding that he was also glad to have the opportunity to get to know Jamestown through his association with the band. He said the area is beautiful despite Tuesday's downpour.

"Today reminds me of one of your songs," Carlson said to Ms. Merchant. The song was Like the Weather, with lyrics, "What a cold and a rainy day, where on earth is the sun hid away?"

"We've mentioned this area a few times in our songs," she replied.

The biggest laugh came from a song called Cotton Alley, named after an alley downtown that fronted a warehouse where the band once practiced.

Carlson said the alley was named in honor of police officer Ron Cotton because he "broke up so many fights" outside a nightclub there.

Drew said he knew of the club.

"He probably started some of the fights," Gustafson joked.

"I'm responsible for tearing it down," replied Carlson.

The gold record reads, "Presented to (the) city of Jamestown to commemorate the sale of more than 500,000 copies of the Elektra Records album and cassette, In My Tribe.

There is both a disc and a cassette, as well as a miniature copy of the album's cover.

The whole thing is very gold.

Gustafson said he doesn't know if it's real. But the sentimental value is more than worth whatever its weight in precious metal.

He said when his mother opened her record, "she just started crying and crying."

Gustafson also has one. "I've got mine hanging on the wall. It replaced one of my father's paintings. ... He didn't mind."