Attorney Mark Krueger to run for Carson City justice of peace

A Carson City attorney announced Tuesday his intention to challenge Carson City Justice of the Peace Robey Willis for his seat in the 2006 election.

"The justice of the peace is the place where justice starts. The position serves the people of Carson City," said Mark Krueger, 36, a senior deputy with the Nevada Attorney General's Office. "It is not an entitlement but involves serious duties and responsibilities for the administration of law. Carson City has seen tremendous growth over the past few years and that growth commands a justice of the peace with legal training and experience."

Willis, who does not hold a law degree, has been in office since his appointment in 1988. He has run for and won three elections.

Under Nevada law, justices of the peace in counties of less than 250,000, do not need to be licensed to practice law in the state of Nevada or hold a law degree.

Willis said Tuesday he "absolutely" intends to run but has yet to make a formal announcement.

"I look forward to the campaign," he said.

Krueger handles banking, finance, consumer protection, unclaimed property, general civil litigation and administrative law for the Attorney General's Office.

A Virginia native and 1998 graduate of California Western School of Law in San Diego, Krueger spent six months as a substitute teacher in Seeley, Calif., before serving for two months as an extern for Supreme Court Justice A. William Maupin. He then served as a law clerk from 1999 to 2001 for now-retired Carson City District Judge Michael Fondi, and then as a clerk to Judge Bill Maddox, who took Fondi's position.

Krueger was hired as a deputy attorney general in 2001 and made a senior deputy in 2004.

He, his wife Shanna, a school teacher, and 3-year-old twins live in Carson City.

Carson City has two positions which serve in the dual capacity of justice of the peace and municipal court judge. The positions are elective and are charged with the responsibility of handling all justice and municipal court matters. Willis works in Department 1 and Justice of the Peace John Tatro is in Department 2.

The term of office of justices of the peace is six years.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

Information

Mark Krueger can be reached at mark@kruegerforjustice.com or

Committee to Elect Mark Krueger Justice of the Peace

P.O. Box 4401

Carson City, NV 89702

www.kruegerforjustice.com