City Treasurer

I have noticed that since the campaign for Burbank city treasurer began, Leader columnist Will Rogers has devoted the major part of not just one but two of his columns to sneering at councilman and candidate Bob Kramer's qualifications for the office. To hear Rogers tell it, Kramer hasn't got any to speak of, hasn't made much sense as a campaigner and, if he were elected, would win the office on name recognition and popularity alone. I beg to differ.

Voters who like Bob Kramer are going to be faced with a difficult dilemma when it comes to voting for a city treasurer on election day. It has nothing to do with the fact that Kramer is probably not the most qualified candidate for the job. He hasn't been the assistant city treasurer for years, or anything like that that might assure us he can do the job effectively. Sure Kramer was a businessman of sorts, but apparently not too successful. He makes no secret of the fact that he wants the job because he needs the big salary.

I voted for Bob Kramer both times when he was running for City Council. I did that because I thought he was a man of integrity who had the best interests of Burbank at heart. I've changed my mind. His willingness to parlay his name recognition into getting elected as city treasurer, so he can (admittedly) have a job paying $70,000 annually for which he is completely unqualified, does not indicate integrity -- quite the opposite. I am equally disappointed in those city employee unions that chose to endorse him. This screams out that political cronyism is alive and well in Burbank.

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- Although Burbank's Feb. 27 primary election will determine the front-runners in the candidates' race, when it comes to raising campaign funds, City Council candidate Marsha Ramos is tops. Ramos has raised $14,159 since July 1 without loaning any money to her campaign. "It's been a learning experience," she said. "For a first-time candidate, I think I've done well. I'm learning as I'm going, but we're right where we want to be."

Karen S. Kim BURBANK -- She's never appeared at a candidates' forum. She's never responded to requests for an interview. She hasn't turned in the appropriate candidacy documents to the city clerk's office. And now she could be in trouble with the law. Where in the world is city treasurer candidate Charity Dawn Wynn? City Clerk Judie Sarquiz said that Wynn owes the city $100 -- the maximum late fee charge -- because she still hasn't submitted her campaign expense reports.

As I recall in the dim, dark past, Councilman Bob Kramer was leading a movement against campaign signs cluttering up the landscape. So what do I find in my travels up and down Burbank's highways and byways? There's been an invasion of "Kramer for City Treasurer" signs pervading our fair city. Can we use the redevelopment law to remove this blight? The treasurer's job should be an appointed position so a person of the proper qualifications can fill the job. Donna Anderson, Jim Rogers' assistant, is probably as qualified as anybody to fill the position.

Will Rogers The candidate for city treasurer who bills himself as the "watchdog for the people" used City Hall office equipment for campaign purposes. Councilman Bob Kramer used a City Hall fax machine to return the lengthy issues questionnaire the Burbank Leader mailed to his home and to the homes of all candidates for contested offices in the upcoming municipal elections. The pages sent by Kramer, who must resign his part-time council seat two years early if he wins the salaried treasurer's job, arrived with the "City Council-Burbank" fax legend printed on each page, an automatic stamp well known to those who routinely receive materials sent by fax from City Hall.

Let's say the Burbank city treasurer position is appointive, as it logically should be, and you must select one of the four candidates for the position. You know the position has a hefty $77,000 annual salary, with the principal responsibility of investing millions of dollars in city funds. Guidelines for such investing are a generalized mandate that investments are safe, liquid, and, consistent with the first two, realizing the highest possible rate of interest.

All the political handouts and news articles about Bob Kramer's qualifications to be city treasurer -- including Karen Kim's Feb. 3 story, "Burbank Vote 2001") -- fail to mention Bob Kramer's qualifications or knowledge about investing large sums of money. I am speaking of our city investments in the millions of dollars. This is not a job for someone who can claim only that he or she is a watchdog for the taxpayers' money. Anyone can, and many try, to tell the taxpayers how to spend money that is already in the city treasury.

Lolita Harper BURBANK -- The next city treasurer should have not only experience in investing, but the professional credentials to back it up, treasurer candidate Todd Layfer said. "I am the only candidate that has an accounting degree, investment experience and has passed the Certified Public Accountants' exam," he said. His experience and professional credentials, combined with his vested interest in the community, make for a winning combination for the office of city treasurer, Layfer said.