Column: How much time does it take to serve as Carson City mayor?

The voters of Carson City decide this year who will be the mayor as we enter the new millennium. For all the issues that our community faces today, it seems the only thing being talked about is how much time the candidates have to serve.

So, what does it really mean?

The discussion of whether our Carson City mayor has full or part time duties in not new. It seems to be a bigger issue than usual this year. Whenever the question comes up, I wonder if Carson City would be best served by those who are either wealthy or retired.

Then, we could have the benefit of their talent and effort without having to pay for it. Mostly, we would get older citizens. Yes, there are a few younger retirees with great pensions, but in general retired people are older. Hey, I am a senior myself, and I served effectively on the Board of Supervisors just four years ago.

A look at other communities may give some insight. Reno's mayor is paid $39,6000 a year for a part-time job, based on 20 hours a week. Reno City councilmen are paid $34,500 per year, also part time for 20 hours per week. Washoe County Commissioners are paid $39,600 per year for a specified part-time job of 20 hours per week. Douglas County pays its commissioners less, but they are all employed full time in addition to serving on the Commission. Even the mayor of Las Vegas has a job.

The salary of the mayor is roughly $23,000 a year. A younger working person with a family could not afford to live on that salary. A senior who retired to play golf, travel and fish will probably not give all his or her time for that salary. This not a salary level that will attract the best candidates unless money is no object.

Another part of the argument about a mayor with full-time duties involves having the time for constituents, and the assumption that a person retired from his or her full-time job will give all their time. Well, retired people enjoy lots of activities because they ARE retired. Should we expect that because a candidate is retired their time will go for the city?

The structure of Carson City's government operations may help clarify the matter. Carson City hires and pays a full-time city manager to take care of the day-to-day business. The mayor and supervisors set the city's budget and develop goals and objectives for the city.

The board, with the mayor as the chairman, sets the policy. City staff carries out the actual work. Carson City has a city manager form of government, rather than a mayoral one.

Can a person really serve and have a job? When I was a member of the Board of Supervisors, I also served on six other commissions: the General Obligation Bonding Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, V&T Railroad Commission, Home Health, Carson City Senior Citizens Advisory Council and the Carson City Transportation Commission. I was also chairperson for the Governor's Commission for National and Community Service.

And, in four years as supervisor, I missed only one board meeting and I never missed a committee meeting. When I was a city supervisor, I was also working full-time as the executive director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a post I still hold. During this same time, we even expanded the RSVP program.

I even went to every ribbon cutting dedication that the mayor did. Sometimes, I or one of the other city supervisors, went in place of the mayor. As a city supervisor, I used my vacation time, or annual leave, when I attended meetings during business hours.

Back to the question. Is "full time" the deciding factor? Is that the only kind of mayor we want? A mayor who is either wealthy or a senior citizen? And be denied the vitality and leadership of a younger point of view? As a senior myself, I think not.

The way our neighboring communities treat the issue does not support a full time requirement. The salary does not support it. The city manager form of government, which is part of the city charter and state law, does not make it necessary. My personal experience shows that even a demanding career doesn't have to stop someone from serving our community this way. When we look logically at the information, it is clear that this is not what we need to consider when choosing our next mayor.

The mayor of Carson City is the most visible member of the Board of Supervisors, the most sought out and recognized. He or she presides over Board of Supervisor meetings and must have a great deal of diplomacy, judgment and leadership qualities to do so. A good mayor listens to everyone respectfully and casts his or her votes in the best interest of the community.

A good mayor presents a positive image of our city. It is these talents and characteristics that matter when we choose our candidate. And it is these points that voters must decide on when they cast their ballot this year for mayor of Carson City.

Choose well.

Janice Ayres, executive director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, was a member of the Carson City Board of Supervisors from 1992 to 1996.