Carson City mayoral candidates posted 98 percent attendance records for board meetings

Both Carson City Mayor Ray Masayko and challenger Tom Tatro, a former Carson City supervisor, posted 98 percent attendance records for regular board of supervisors meetings.

Masayko, 55, has missed 1 1/2 board meetings in four years, and Tatro, 43, missed four regular board meetings in 9 1/2 years as a supervisor.

There have been 92 regular board meetings since Masayko took office in January 1997. Tatro had the potential of attending 222 regular board meetings from October 1989 to December 1998.

Part of the debate over Tatro's ability to serve as mayor while having a full-time job with the state has focused on his attendance record while a supervisor. Masayko has campaigned on his ability to be a full-time mayor in a part-time position.

According to records from 1997 to 1999, Masayko missed only one of 112 potential Board of Supervisors events - which includes both meetings and other official functions attended by supervisors - which gives him an overall attendance record of 99 percent.

"Meetings are important," Masayko said. "They're absolutely my top priority because that's what I was elected to do. That was my commitment to the people of Carson City.

"If I'm not there, I can't cast my vote, I can't give my opinion. I run a pretty hectic schedule, but I give all the duties my utmost attention."

Members of the Board of Supervisors had the ability to attend 422 scheduled events or meetings during Tatro's term. Of those, he missed a total of 23, including the four regular meetings mentioned above, giving him a 95 percent attendance record overall at board meetings and events.

"I think that shows a sustained commitment over a long period of time," said Steve Hartman, co-chairman of the Committee to Elect Tom Tatro. "Meetings are where you accomplish the business of the community. It's what we engage these people and vote them into office to do - represent us.

"It's different when you're in public service. It seems like the longer you're involved, other things become more important. Tom has always had a commitment to the community. He knows what the issues were. He never ducked meetings where there were important issues to be discussed. He doesn't talk to hear himself talk. He showed up."

Former supervisors Greg Smith and Janice Ayres both said attending meetings is more important than the social events tied to the mayor's job.

"If you can't make meetings and cast a vote yea or nay, then you're letting your constituents down," Smith said. "If you're not there, you're not doing what you were elected to do. The last three mayors have done a wonderful job attending the ceremonial things. But the regular meetings where the citizens' interests are taken care of are paramount."

"Commissions or committees are all very, very important," Ayres said. "You make a commitment to that board to be the city representative. If you sign up to give your time, you should go. Social events are important, but they're a second priority."

As a supervisor, Tatro served on 10 boards and committees during his term. His attendance record ranged from a low of 74 percent attendance while serving on the Regional Transportation Commission from 1997 to 1998 to a high of 100 percent while serving on the Parks and Recreation commission between 1989 and 1991.

Masayko had 100 percent attendance during his one-year tenure as chairman of the Redevelopment Authority and its Citizen Committee from 1998 to 1999, but has a 58 percent attendance record on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program advisory council, which is required to have a board representative. Masayko serves on about eight city, state and regional councils that meet with varying regularity.

"My priorities are, first, my statutory requirements; second, to take care of the business of the city; and third, is to go to as many meetings that show me as a booster who cares about this community and what happens to it," Masayko said. "The third I set aside as much time as I can to be there on behalf of the community."

While Tatro served on 10 boards during his term as a supervisor, he resigned his post on those boards and commissions in 1998, his last year as a supervisor.

"Other people had to step into his place, including me," Masayko said.

Tatro said his decision to leave those boards was based largely on the potential for several long-term members of the board to leave at the same time, leaving little experience on the committees. He and Supervisor Kay Bennett had been there the longest, but with his departure and the potential of Greg Smith losing the 1998 election, there would be no continuity, he said.

"The whole issue was transition, letting someone else take over and letting me be there to help them as they took over," he said. "It allowed the boards some continuity."

Also, his oldest son, Ryan, was graduating from high school and his younger son, Jared, was heading into his senior year at Carson High School.

"My kids were going to be home for one more year," Tatro said. "I wanted to have as much time with them as I could before they grew up and moved away and started their own lives. It was kind of a family thing, too."