LEWISTON – You can call Jim Bennett a master now.

The city administrator and his alter ego, Ginjo, have officially risen to the top of the clown game, claiming the title of master clown.

Bennett has become one of a handful of masters in the local Kora Shrine and one of about 50 in New England.

And he did it in about half the normal time.

“Normally, it takes about 10 or 11 years,” said Paul Boudreau, another of the local Kora Shrine’s master clowns and the city’s public works director.

Bennett managed the feat in a little more than five years.

“He’s just very energetic and very dedicated to doing it,” he said.

Claiming master status is not all white face and balloon animals. Clowns need to complete four years of Clown College, a training program for Shrine performers, and spend at least 150 hours per year in costume. Then, they need to amass points at Shrine clown competitions.

Bennett has claimed several top three finishes, at competitions in St. Louis, Mo., and Louisville, Ky.

Bennett also serves as an instructor and member of the Board of Directors for the Northeast Clown Institute in Plymouth, Mass.

“If you watch Jim, you know how busy his schedule is,” Boudreau said. “Still, he makes regular visits to the local hospitals to programs. Clowning is rewarding and fun, but it can be a lot of work.”

Bennett said it’s all a matter of finding the time.

“Busy people like to keep busy,” he said. He enjoys being in front of the crowd most of all, performing and getting people to laugh.

“The makeup and the getting ready, it takes easily about two-and-a-half hours,” he said. “I wish I could do that in 15 minutes. But the rest of it, that’s what I really like.”