Getto discusses role of Public Administrator

Bob Getto, a candidate for public administrator, explained how the administrator is an elected official tasked by the Nevada Revised Statues to settle the estates of those who die without a will.

Getto is running for the position against Stuart Mackie, who did not send in a questionnaire or attend last Wednesday’s Lahontan Valley News Candidates’ Night.

Getto said individuals who die without a will and with or without family members will be appointed by the judicial system to monitor the estate. The appointment secures the inventory until the courts can appoint someone to follow through with entire liquidation of the estate up to the point of filing the final tax returns.

“It’s not a full time job but an important job,” Getto said. “NRS adds different layers of laws and regulations, so individuals have to have computer ability, book keeping ability and be able to treat it like a business and get things done fairly and correctly … I think I can do a good job of that.”

In Nevada’s 17 counties including Churchill, seven counties consider the public administrator as an elected position, Getto said. In the other counties the position is either appointed or handled by the district attorney or clerk treasurer, but in Churchill County the position is elected.

Getto said the public administrator is not a funded position in Churchill County.

“That is something that needs to be looked at,” Getto said. “We need to look at what can be done with the assets; those rules are vague.”

Churchill County and rural areas need better policies on how to conduct business, he added. In Washoe and Clark counties, the public administrator positions are elected and have an annual salary of about $100,000 per year. Getto said Washoe County processes about 250 cases a year and Churchill County might process 10 cases.

“I don’t know if I’ll ask for a salary, but I think there should be one,” Getto said. “I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to other public administrators from other counties that are the size of Churchill County.”

Getto said he talked to the public administrator in Washoe County who has a good program and he checked with Carson City who pays their public administrator only because the clerk takes on the position.

“I need to talk to the county manager and find out what is going on,” Getto said. “Every elected official who works for the county deserves to be paid. I don’t think anyone expects any citizen to volunteer their time and effort to do a good job and do it for free or have them take money out of their savings to do the job.”

Getto said the public administrator should have a page on the county website, an email address and a direct phone line for individuals to contact.

Getto has been a business owner in Churchill County since 1985. He operates two businesses and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. He has been the chairmen of past boards and is the current president of Northern Nevada Regional Multiple Listing Service that oversee activities of the 2,200 realtors in western Nevada.