Treasurer announced bid for third term

Al Kramer has a resolution for the new year: seek re-election to a third term as Carson City's treasurer.

"It's on my list of things I'm going to do," he said. "I'm comfortable with my job, and I think I do a good job."

As treasurer Kramer, 53, is responsible for the city's $50 million investment portfolio, banking duties and $23 million in property tax collections. Unlike other city treasurers, Kramer and his staff also handle business, liquor and gaming licenses and collect payments for the city's water and sewer utilities and parking enforcement.

Treasurer -- the lowest paid local elected office at $57,523 -- isn't exactly someone who needs to be elected, Kramer said, but because the state constitution calls for it, he'll run.

He ran for the office in 1994, coming from a position at the state treasurers office. A Carson native, Kramer ran against Deputy Treasurer Merlene Alt in 1994 and ran unopposed in 1998.

"When somebody decides to run for election, they have to be confident that they can do a better job than the incumbent," Kramer said. "I hope I haven't let anyone think I'm not doing a good job."

Kramer said his family has been in the area for 150 years. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and has a master's degree in business administration from Claremont Graduate School. He returned to Carson City in 1990 after "years in corporate America." Father of Dan, of Carson City, Alex, a doctorate student at Purdue University, and Joy, a journalism major at the University of Nevada, Reno, he has been married to Candice, an artist, for 33 years.

"We don't plan on ever moving out of Carson City. We've got local cemetery sites," he joked.

Kramer said a constant goal of his is to cut costs and increase revenue.

"When I got here, there were eight people and a treasurer. Now, there are seven and me. We do more with less. We easily gained about $1 million a year on the city's investments. We've reduced staff and added a debt recovery unit. We're running a tighter ship.

"Your work is defined by Nevada Revised Statutes, so for the most part the job is very defined," Kramer said. "At the same time, there's a lot of work to be done."

Kramer helped launch a Web site for his department this year which allows people to pay their bills with on-line checks. He hopes to further allow people to use the Internet by creating the ability for people to pay their bills with credit and debit cards.

Kramer also serves on the board of directors for Citizens for Affordable Homes, a nonprofit group that helps low-income people become homeowners.