Kootenai County treasurer to retire

COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Treasurer Tom Malzahn announced his retirement in a press release late Wednesday afternoon.

He cited "personal reasons" for leaving the post he has held for 12 years and asked for "understanding in this matter."

"I truly have appreciated and been humbled by the support I have received from the citizens of Kootenai County," Malzahn wrote. "You have provided me many memories that I will treasure."

His final day with the county will be March 28.

Malzahn, who earned $70,665, is endorsing Laurie Thomas, his chief deputy treasurer for 12 years, to fulfill the final two years of his four-year term.

Malzahn, 66, said the Treasurer's Office is in better shape than when he was appointed in 2001. He listed an investment program, new taxation/assessment software implementation, extended business hours, outsourcing printing functions and developing a team approach to staffing as key accomplishments.

"Not only are we much leaner in personnel than we were 16 years ago, but everyone is cross-trained so services do not go unattended when someone is absent," he wrote.

Malzahn was appointed treasurer in 2001, elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He ran unopposed and was re-elected to a four-year term with more than 35,000 votes in November 2010.

Retired from the United States Marines Corps, Malzahn said his second career was as satisfying as the first.

"These last 16 years (12 as treasurer and four as chief deputy treasurer) have exceeded my expectations," he wrote.

The process to appoint a replacement falls to Kootenai County commissioners Dan Green, Todd Tondee and Jai Nelson, based on recommendations by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

Green said Wednesday that Malzahn did his job well.

"He's a gentleman and he's been a pleasure to work with," Green said.