Just days after losing the election to city councilman Dick Alcombright, North Adams Mayor John Barrett looks back on his 26 years in office. Our Sabina Kuriakose has more as the "mayor for life" takes his final bow.

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"It's almost like a scrapbook," said Mayor John Barrett of his many knickknacks, photo frames and newspaper clippings.

Now Barrett has the daunting task of packing it all up, as he prepares to exit his post as Massachusetts' longest serving mayor.

It's not easy for a man who himself has become an institution here in Berkshire County. Though he feels like his work isn't finished, Barrett points to the many things he did get done.

"The opening gala of Mass Moca back in 1999, the highlight of my career," he said.

Before getting to the good times, Barrett had to overcome the challenges of carrying North Adams through an economic downturn that hit hardest soon after he took office.

"That first month the local company Sprague Electric announced they were pulling out of the city. And the news for the next six months was bad," Barrett said.

He said that more than anything, it's his ability to lead that got him and North Adams through those tough times. But his buck-stops-here reputation is one of the reasons many voters turned to his opponent on Tuesday.

"I'm not the smartest guy in town, the brightest bulb or the sharpest knife in the drawer. But I think I possess the leadership abilities to get projects done," Barrett said.

He will officially hand over the keys to City Hall on January 1st to Mayor-elect Dick Alcombright. Barrett said there's really only one thing he would have liked to do differently.

"I wish that I could have gone out on my terms, but if that's my greatest disappointment in life, then I've done all right," Barrett said.