He sits as far in the back of the room as possible, but he catches every word said – even the muttered ones – at Sussex County Council meetings.
Then at the end of just about every meeting, he saunters up the middle of the aisle like an usher getting ready to drop off the collection plate. But his weekly offering is usually one of barbed criticism on one matter or another discussed during the meeting.
“This is Dan Kramer…” he starts off, although he needs no introduction because everyone who has attended more than one county council meeting knows him.
The word “watchdog” is probably not apropos in Kramer’s case – he’s more like a self-appointed ombudsman who keeps an eye on what the council is doing.
Kramer hasn’t missed a county council meeting for at least 13 years, but who is counting? He isn’t, because he isn’t really sure when he started attending meetings.
When it comes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), few are more versed in its details and few are more willing to file a complaint than Dan Kramer. He has not only filed FOIA complaints against Sussex County, but also against the Woodbridge School District and the Town of Milton.
“People call me a watchdog, but I’m really a junkyard dog who will bite you in the gasket,” he said with a laugh.
He carries a copy of the Freedom of Information Act on a clipboard to every meeting.
Tired, but not retired
Kramer, 62, has lived on the Eastern Shore since he moved east from Ohio when he was 2 years old. “I’m tired, but not retired,” he said. He has worked as a carpenter, but is currently working as an auctioneer and purveyor of his world-famous kettle corn.
He is also a “drop-in-the-bucket” farmer who specializes in beans of all sorts – especially lima beans. He has had a love of farming and the land all his life.
He’s not one to talk much about his personal life. “You can ask questions; I may not answer them,” he said.
Believe it or not, Kramer wasn’t always a meeting fanatic. When he moved to Greenwood, he started attending Woodbridge School District meetings. Although he doesn’t attend every one, he said school officials know he is still watching.
Somewhere along the line, he decided someone needed to keep an eye on things. Kramer is a stickler for doing things right. If it’s in the book to be done a certain way, then by gum, it should be done that way.
About the same time, some 15 years ago, he attended a few county council public hearings.
“To be honest I don’t recall the reason I went to my first county council meeting,” he said.
But, he can recall with vivid detail why he went back and continues to go back every Tuesday – even when he doesn’t feel well. “I’ve got a better record than any one of them councilmen,” he said.
After the meeting he was watching the county administrator talk about an issue from the meeting to a TV news reporter. “It was different than what happened at the meeting,” Kramer said.
Kramer soon discovered that several items ended up being discussed that weren’t on the agenda and to top that off, agendas weren’t posted seven days in advance as required.
He contacted the Attorney General’s Office. Soon after, a letter was forwarded to the county, reminding officials they were not posting meetings properly.
“All hell broke loose,” Kramer said. “From that point on I was told that if I wanted anything from the county I would have to put it in writing. That was OK because it taught me how to write.”
The following year, with pen in hand, he filed his first FOIA complaint against the county for a committee meeting held without notice and with no minutes kept.
“They knew Dan Kramer was there and he’s been there ever since. If they are doing something right, I’ll be the first to let them know. And if they do something wrong, they are going to hear from me,” he said.
They know he’s watching
Sucking on his pipe, wearing his characteristic blue overalls and suspenders, Kramer stands outside the county administration building before each meeting to let folks know he is there.
He stops reporters as they enter the building to ask what’s going on and usually has a comment or two about a story they have written. He is also quick to offer ideas for stories.
When he steps up to the podium during meetings, he rarely speaks more than a few minutes. To the casual observer, Kramer would appear to be angry when he takes on the council. But if they look closely, he always has a little twinkle in his eyes as he turns around and walks away from the podium. He lives for this stuff.
“I know there are some there who would love to see me shut my mouth,” he said.
Kramer admits over the past few years, officials have cleaned up their act and for the most part meetings are run according to the rules. “But they know I’m still watching them. Lord willing and creek don’t rise, I’ll keep knocking on their door,” he said.
Kramer and his wife, Martha, have two grown children – Catharine, librarian at the Greenwood Library, and Daniel John Kramer II, who lives in Indiana.
The unique world of Dan Kramer
There is no doubt Dan Kramer is one of a kind. His “Kramerisms,” as county employees have termed some of his more frequent sayings, are legend.
Bull cookies. He uses the phrase when he really gets upset in place of more colorful language that would probably get him in trouble.
Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie. These three words are used a lot when he goes into one of his diatribes about nonprofit groups asking for money from the council.
Dadgum turkeys: He uses this phrase, or some variation, but always with the word “turkey,” to describe the council.
And some more insights into the life of Dan Kramer:
His phone answering machine message: “You gotta problem; I gotta problem.”
No place for technology: Although he is one of the most informed people on the planet when it comes to Sussex County issues, he does not own a computer – and does not want one.
He’s not worried what others think: “They can call me anything they want as long, as they don’t call me late for supper,” he says.
His thoughts on time and money: “There are times when I should have stayed home and picked beans and made some money, but what is most important?” he asks. “Money is not the most important thing in the world. I need to make sure stuff is right.”
Why he can’t miss a council meeting: “They’ll say ‘Dan Kramer ain’t here so we’ll go ahead and pass this, this and this because nobody is going to complain.’”
On the Freedom of Information Act: “Do I always get what I want? No. Am I always a winner? Yes. That’s because it gets their attention and they know Dan Kramer is still a burr under their saddle.”
