Bill de Blasio

NYC Councilman's Claim as Tallest Pol Draws Quick Challenges

Robert Cornegy Jr., a 6-foot-10 councilman from Brooklyn, was certified by Guinness World Records in January and honored for the distinction this week at a City Hall ceremony

What to Know

  • Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. was certified as the world's tallest male politician by Guinness World Records in January
  • But North Dakota's insurance commissioner, Jon Godfread, quickly stepped forward to say he will contest the title
  • Brad Sellers, a former Ohio State and Chicago Bulls star who is now a mayor, also says he has a claim

It didn't take long for a New York City councilman's claim that he's the world's tallest male politician to draw some challenges.

Robert Cornegy Jr., a 6-foot-10 councilman from Brooklyn, was certified by Guinness World Records in January and honored for the distinction this week at a City Hall ceremony.

But North Dakota's insurance commissioner, Jon Godfread, quickly stepped forward to say he will contest the title. Godfread, who played basketball at the University of Northern Iowa and played professionally in Germany, says he's 6-11¾.

Brad Sellers, a former Ohio State and Chicago Bulls star listed at 7 feet, also says he has a claim. Sellers is the mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Former NBA basketball player Yao Ming could top them all. Yao is a delegate in the advisory body to China's National People's Congress. He is listed at 7-feet-6

Godfread says he didn't know "being a tall politician was a thing."

Copyright The Associated Press
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