South Tahoe treasurer resigns

By Kathryn Reed

Effective today, Stephen Wysong has resigned as treasurer of South Lake Tahoe, a position he has had since 1990.

Wysong is the second person to have this elected position — the other being John Upton. When the city was first incorporated in 1965 the treasurer position was not part of the mix.

For a while, the treasurer attended City Council meetings. When Wysong realized no one was asking questions, he opted not to attend the lengthy sessions.

Wysong did not return calls or an email. He has been ill for a number of months.

“I was referred to Hospice care on November 24, 2009,” Wysong wrote in his resignation letter. “My oncologist indicates I likely have three months or less to live.”

The certified public accountant worked for the Internal Revenue Service before opening his own practice in South Lake Tahoe.

He and his first wife, Linda, raised their two children here. Andrew and Kelly were valedictorians of their classes at South Tahoe High School. Both went on to graduate from Cal.

“He never missed a Cal football game. He was very much a family man,” said Jean Burns, who is a neighbor of Wysong and his wife, Robyn.

Burns said she is used to seeing Wysong out walking the family dogs.

“He is very much an animal lover,” Burns said. “Their front door mat says ‘this household is run solely for the comfort of our pets’.”

Kiwanis has been a huge part of Wysong’s life. Dave Borges met Wysong in 1985 in the service club.

“He has helped this community socially and economically,” Borges said. “He is very unpretentious. If something needs to be done, he rolls up his sleeves and does it.”

Borges relayed the story of how when Wysong was young he didn’t do well in school until someone told him he needed glasses. His family was too poor to buy them. The Lions club came through with glasses and Wysong started producing A’s in school.

Ron Weibel has also been a member of Kiwanis of Lake Tahoe with Wysong.

“He has been the backbone of the Kiwanis club for quite some time,”Weibel said.

One trait Weibel said Wysong has is being a “tremendous listener”. He also praised how good a father Wysong is.

He liked to play sports with his kids and continued to do so after they left home. Wysong was an avid skier in the winter and liked to be out on the lake in the summer.

As city treasurer, his main duties were to invest the city’s funds.

The city has 30 days to appoint a replacement. If this doesn’t happen, a special election must be called. This would likely cost about $25,000.

Deputy City Treasurer MaryAnne Brand will fill the role until a permanent replacement is named. She is the person Wysong recommends serve out his term that expires at the end of 2010. She works in the city’s finance department as well.

The council next meets Dec. 8 and the issue is on the agenda. If a decision is not made Tuesday, it’s likely a special council meeting will need to be called.