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Latah County Treasurer

TreasurerThe Latah County treasurer serves a 4-year term. In addition to the primary duty of handling county funds, the treasurer is also ex-officio tax collector and ex-officio public administrator.

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    Peggy Gottschalk
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    B.J. Swanson
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

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Campaign Statement Hello. I’m BJ Swanson, running for re-election as your Latah County Treasurer.
Campaign Phone 208-301-1221
Campaign Email bj4treasurer@gmail.com
Mailing Address PO Box 312
Troy, ID 83871
Phone 208-301-1221
Office Sought Latah County Treasurer
Latah County faces a critical infrastructure need: a new county jail. Today, Latah County and the City of Moscow transport detainees to Nez Perce County — a 62-mile roundtrip that is costly, unsafe, and pulls law enforcement away from our community. I will work with other Idaho counties to advocate to the Legislature for funding solutions. Local Option Taxes offer a path forward; funding a new jail while providing property tax relief without competing with local school bonds.
I have served as Latah County Treasurer for seven years. Each year, more than 22,000 tax bills are balanced, verified for accuracy, approved by the Idaho State Tax Commission, and delivered on time.

Before being elected Treasurer, I spent 30+ years as a commercial bank vice president, building expertise in management, accounting, financial analysis, investments, bond financing, customer service, and regulatory compliance. I have handled complex matters in real estate, bankruptcy, estates, collections, urban renewal taxing districts, and have managed budgets and investments ranging from $1,000 to $50 million. I also bring strong skills in computer systems, data management, and emerging technologies, including AI.
State budget pressures are real and growing. The Idaho Legislature’s structural deficits have shifted increasing costs onto local governments and taxpayers, making it harder to deliver the services our community depends on. I approach these challenges with creativity and a forward focus — finding smarter ways to save money, improve services, and make every taxpayer dollar count.
I am a lifelong Latah County resident. I graduated from Deary High School and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. My husband Cliff, a retired teacher, and I are proud to call rural Troy home. This community is where I was raised, and serving it as your Treasurer is an honor I do not take lightly.