Customer service guides Latah's incumbent treasurer's philosophy

Les Proctor has not kissed any babies in hopes of keeping the county treasurer's position, a job he's held for eight years. It's just not his style. "This is definitely not a job of prestige," he said. "I have friends who ask me if I still work at the courthouse, and I just say 'Yep.' Many of them don't even know what I do." Proctor said his experience is one of the reasons voters should retain him as treasurer. He worked at the AP Green Inc. brick plant in Troy for 24 years as an accountant before it shut down. Then he went to work at the assessor's office as an appraiser before being appointed as treasurer in 1998. Right after I was appointed, I had to run for office," he said. " This will be my third time running." "I am too young to retire," he said, reclining in an office chair at the front desk, waiting for a taxpayer to arrive. He said the office functions well, and that everything he does is connected with his staff. He believes it would take someone else three years to become competent within the position. "Our communication system is something worth keeping intact." Proctor, unopposed in the May 23 primary, will face Khaliela S. Wright of Potlatch in the November general election. We have nothing to do with tax but calculate and extract," he said. "We are the ones that have to reach into the pocket, and that can be tenuous." Proctor said 98 percent of the taxpayers in Latah County pay their tax bill on time. To him, the job isn't about collections, it's about seeing people leave his office with a smile, even though they're paying taxes. When he started as treasurer, the office had two staff at the front desk. Since the office remodel, all of the clerks' desks are attached to the front counter, allowing them to serve four taxpayers at a time. Besides serving the public, Proctor sees himself as the keeper of the county funds. "You have to keep an open mind," he said. "I'm always looking for new ways to stretch the money and look to the future to best safeguard it." Proctor said voting is the most important aspect of the May 23 primary election. He wants people to exercise their right and freedom to vote, rather than seeing it as another burden. "The best message I can send is for people to vote in the primary as well as the general election. This is America and it's unfortunate more people do not take advantage of their power and vote." B>Candidate Bio n NAME: Leslie "Les" Proctor * RUNNING FOR: Latah County Treasurer * PERSONAL: 61, married to wife, Eleanor; five children * OCCUPATION: Latah County treasurer * ACTIVITIES: Tromping around in the outdoors, gardening and spending time with family Ryan Bentley can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 237, or by e-mail at rbentley@dnews.com.