Robert M. Crampsie, Carbon County Controller for the past 20 years, has announced his candidacy for re-election to a sixth four-year term in that position. He is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination in the May 17 Primary Election.

Elected in 1991, Crampsie oversees spending within Carbon County's annual operational budget, which in 2011 is listed at $50.9 million. As secretary of the Carbon County Employees Retirement Board, he is also responsible for the administration of the current $62.7-million fund.Crampsie has played a vital role in setting up the county's current modified accrual basis of accounting, having assisted the administration in implementation of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 34 (GASB 34), which resulted in annual financial reports being more comprehensive and easier to understand.Under his guidance, the county administration realigned its financial accounting process to provide the most efficient procedures to account for the financial operations of the county and the correct segregation of duties between the county's departments as prescribed by the County Code.By adding an accounting manager position in the controller's office, the move also allowed for the implementation of new accounting standards, preparation of journal entries, preparation of information for annual audits, coordination of audits with a CPA firm, and establishing of accounting procedures. In addition, the controller assumed supervision of the Fiscal Data Processing Department, which previously was under the umbrella of the commissioners' office and called for budget development, fiscal analysis for the commissioners' office and continuing analysis of financial results for budget revision necessities.As an active member of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Controllers, Crampsie has served as its president in 1999-2000; chaired the Best practices for County Controllers Committee; and served on the Task Force on Act 96, East Legislative and Auditing/Accounting committees.In addition to his duties as controller and secretary of the retirement board, Crampsie is a member and former secretary of the Inspectors of the Carbon County Jail (Prison Board), where he helped implement and serves as chairperson of the Cost Containment Committee, which through negotiations with providers has helped save the county tens of thousands of dollars in prison expenses. The controller is also a sitting member of the Carbon County Salary Board for purposes of establishing and setting salaries for all county positions.Prior to being elected to county office, Crampsie was long active in the Borough of Summit Hill's governmental and civic activities. He is a former member of Summit Hill's Water Authority, planning commission and board of auditors. His civic involvement includes having served as chairman of the Summit Hill Memorial Day Parade Committee and as an umpire in the Summit Hill Little League, both for many years. He is a current member of the Summit Hill Lions and Sons of the American Legion.He is one of seven children of the late John L. "Jack" and Margaret (Shober) Crampsie, his father having been the Summit Hill Police Chief for more than 20 years and his mother having been a registered nurse.The controller graduated in 1971 from Marian High School, Hometown, where he was a member of its state championship basketball team. He attended DeSales University, where he majored in economics.Crampsie is a former basketball coach at Panther Valley Middle School and the former Our Lady of the Valley and St. Joseph Parochial schools, Summit Hill.He is a past president of the Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Youth Organization and a past vice president of the former schools' Home and School Association. Long active in the Panther Valley Irish-American Association, he is past president and secretary of the group, and in 2007 received the Shamrock Award from the organization.The candidate is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Carbon-Schuylkill Industrial Development Corporation, having held the office of vice president.A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Summit Hill, he formerly served on the council and was active in the parish's $350,000 building campaign to renovate the church. He is also a Eucharistic Minister there.His political affiliations include membership in the Jeffersonian Democratic Club, Summit Hill, and the Carbon County Democratic Executive Committee. He was formerly elected a Democratic committeeman in Summit Hill's First Ward.He is married to the former Kathy Mangan of Tamaqua, a noted area singer and guitarist. The couple has four children: Colleen, wife of Gino Giantesano of Alexandria, Va.; Kara, wife of Dave Nocek of Wynnewood, Pa.; Michael, and his wife, Melissa Gimbor, of Summit Hill; and Meghan, wife of Daniel Blazosky of Lansford. They also have seven grandchildren, Lina Giantesano, Cole Nocek, Taylor Reilly Crampsie, Gino Giantesano, Carlin Crampsie, Danika Blazosky and Jack Nocek.