Wagner headed toward 10th term as treasurer

Keith Gushard

Nov. 4, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Fred Wagner is headed toward an apparent 10th term as Crawford County treasurer, one of the longest serving public servants in Pennsylvania.

With 66 of 67 precincts reporting, unofficial totals had Republican Wagner with 8,486 votes to Democratic challenger Brad Cronin's 5,011 votes. Official vote tabulation begins Friday.

"I'm the longest serving statewide, but not the oldest," said Wagner, 71, with a big smile Tuesday night. "I don't know if it's a record."

Wagner has been county treasurer since first being elected in 1973, taking office in January 1974. He is a graduate of Allegheny College with a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in accounting.

"I plan on serving the public the way I always have the last 36 years," said Wagner. "But it's not just myself, but the staff -- it's part of a team effort."

Wagner said the key for him was "the experience and integrity that I brought to the office."

This was Cronin's first attempt at elected office in the county. He runs his family's business -- the Putt It miniature golf course in Vernon Township. He also previously was a department store manager and has been a tax preparer.

Cronin got into the race because he wanted to "put fresh eyes on the books."

Cronin thanked his wife, family and friends and voters for their support in the campaign.

"Unfortunately after running a hard campaign I fell short of the necessary votes to win," Cronin said in a statement. "However I feel that I have learned many things from this campaign and have grown as an individual."

Asked if he may seek office in the future, Cronin said, "It's up in the air. It's different. I want to be involved in public service -- whether it's run for office or whatever."

Cronin had tried to make an issue of the county's pension fund losing about $18 million in the stock market downturn in 2008 -- falling from more than $43 million to $25 million. He claimed Wagner should have converted those investments into safer havens than the stock market.

Wagner countered that it's not the treasurer's decision alone, but one of five votes.

Wagner said the treasurer, the three county commissioners and the county's chief clerk comprise the pension board and work with the professional financial consulting firm -- Cap Trust -- to decide what to purchase and sell.

Wagner said the pension fund's assets did drop in 2008 as the stock market and financial markets fell. The county's investment mix is 60 percent stocks and mutual funds and 40 percent fixed investments like bonds and money market funds.

However, it has bounced back this year -- with assets rebounding to $38 million as the stock market has improved, he said.

The treasurer's office is the official custodian of the county's funds. It handles payment of bills, investment of the county's funds, sale of various licenses and the filing of reports on those functions.

The treasurer serves on the county's pension, salary, retirement and prison boards.

In Crawford County, the treasurer also serves as director of the county tax claim bureau. The treasurer is responsible for collection of all delinquent real estate taxes and sale of properties for which taxes are in arrears by three years.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0341-39445876