ENDORSEMENTS

Lewiston Tribune

November 6, 2022

Four community servants

Local political offices are very important, serving the lifeblood of our community. I encourage everyone to vote and support the excellent people offering to be public servants and to listen to our concerns.

Tom Lamar has served as Latah County commissioner since 2015 and has served our community in other roles for many years. He is a dedicated conservationist, a champion of rural communities and an advocate of health care for everyone.

John Bohman is running for Latah County commissioner this year because he wants to focus on family issues, education, safe highways and affordable health care. He is the third-generation operator of his family farm on Little Bear Ridge, east of Troy.

BJ Swanson has been Latah County treasurer since 2018. She is a retired commercial bank vice president with more than 30 years of experience in management, budgeting, financial analysis and commercial real estate. Her exceptional skills and expertise are unrivaled.

Alexis Kim is running for Latah County clerk. She has worked in the auditor’s office for more than three years. She is nonpartisan and eager to engage with constituents to improve county systems.

I encourage you to vote for Lamar, Bohman, Swanson and Kim. They are committed to listening to constituents’ concerns and finding reasonable solutions.

Myron Schreck

Moscow

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

November 1, 2022

Swanson a proven entity

Once again, I am supporting BJ Swanson for Latah County treasurer. I know what it takes to be a good Treasurer, a good civil servant and a responsible tax collector. There is so much more to the county treasurer’s office than just collecting taxes. The treasurer is the public administrator, handling unattended deaths, reporting to the commissioners regarding available funds and cash flow and responsible for many banking accounts, all which must be balanced monthly.

These accounts include not only county investments, but court ordered funds, tax anticipation, both interest bearing and noninterest bearing. BJ understands these accounts, and knows where to get the best investments within Idaho Code. The treasurer doesn’t set the taxes but is responsible for preparing the bills and collecting the money and investing it until needed. It is a complex job and not one to be taken lightly.

BJ is honest, taking care of our dollars, her employees and most importantly her constituents. She has the integrity to uphold that honesty, even when it means confrontation. This integrity is what it takes to keep the office out of lawsuits.

BJ’s track record for the last four years has been stellar. I am very proud of how she has continued the tradition of service and community. The most recent struggle has been to replace an outdated computer system. BJ has studied the alternatives, worked with connected offices and has budgeted carefully to replace this old system. This is a huge task and not one to take on without research.

I have known BJ for more than 30 years and worked very closely with her prior to her taking office after my retirement. No one else can do the task as well as she.

Please join me in voting for BJ Swanson for county treasurer.

Lois Reed

Moscow

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

October 29, 2022

B J Swanson

Who do you want to manage your tax dollars in Latah County?

I want someone with a history of financial experience. I want someone who is honest, someone with integrity and someone who is innovative and efficient. I want someone who cares about local taxpayers and treats them with respect. BJ Swanson is that person.

BJ is the current Latah County Treasurer and she is running for reelection. Not only does BJ have over 30 years experience in banking and finance, she is a local gal who knows the County and knows rural Idaho. I am impressed because BJ actually cares about how much we pay in property taxes and has lobbied for fair property tax relief. With BJ, you get practical experience, a friendly demeanor, and someone who is very tech savvy. Someone with all this to offer is a rare public servant. Let’s keep BJ as our Latah Treasurer.

Vote for experience and competence. I know we will.

Bob & Linda Pike

Moscow-Pullman Daily News

October 19, 2022

Vote for BJ Swanson

I’m voting for BJ Swanson for Latah County treasurer.

Dale and I purchased a parcel of land several years ago. I could never understand why the assessed value and taxes on this parcel were higher than other similar parcels we owned. I contacted the assessor’s office. They said the assessment was correct but couldn’t explain anything and didn’t have others to explain in detail because of COVID-19 closures.

I received another high tax bill and was frustrated. I knew it was wrong but didn’t know what to do about it.

I contacted BJ to see if she could help. She researched the parcel boundaries and different land codes and found I was being double-taxed for a well that was near the property line. She resolved the problem with the assessor’s office and my tax bill dropped by $130. BJ is a wealth of knowledge about taxes, real estate, maps, land codes and many other things and is always willing to help. BJ has my vote.

Irene Lunsford

Deary