Krolicki has new job but wants old office

Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006 | 6:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Does the office make the man? And if so, does it matter whether that office is located on the first or second floor?

State Treasurer and Lt. Gov.-elect Brian Krolicki apparently thinks so because he's fighting to hold on to his current office space when he assumes his new duties on Jan. 1.

For more than 25 years, the state treasurer's office has been on the main floor of the Capitol. It's right across the hallway from the office of the treasurer's fellow state financial officer - the controller - and about 20 paces from the governor's office.

For the past eight years the treasurer's office has been occupied by Krolicki, who on Nov. 7 was elected lieutenant governor.

Even though his new job is part time, in the political pecking order, it marks a move up the ladder for Krolicki.

Krolicki, though, doesn't want to move to the lieutenant governor's office on the second floor of the Capitol.

That has produced a tug-of-war between Krolicki - who wants to retain his current office space and just swap the sign outside that now says "Treasurer" for one saying "Lieutenant Governor" - and incoming Treasurer Kate Marshall, who thinks the treasurer's office is fine right where it is.

Krolicki argues it would be more efficient for the treasurer to be on the second floor in what is now the lieutenant governor's office because her top staff also is on the second floor.

Marshall, though, says that the treasurer's staff is on both the second floor and in the Capitol basement, making the office's current location convenient to staffers on both floors.

It never occurred to Krolicki during his two terms as treasurer to move to the second floor to be closer to his senior staff. Why? He says the space efficiency idea just didn't occur to him then.

He also argues it would be cost-effective if only one office had to be renovated - the current lieutenant governor's office, which if Krolicki gets his way will become Marshall's office.

Marshall, who views the whole thing as a minor annoyance started by Krolicki, says she's concentrating more on getting her programs up and running when she takes office than on where that office will be located.

"It's a ridiculous thing," Marshall said. "The seating charts are not my focus."

Krolicki and Marshall agree, though, on one thing: They're not sure who makes the final decision on which officeholders get which offices.

Krolicki also will have an office in the Nevada Legislative Building, about 150 yards from the Capitol, during the 2007 session when he serves as president of the Senate.

No word yet on whether he finds that office satisfactory.