(Credit: Courtesy Warren County, 2022)
Mike Swan
Warren County Treasurer Mike Swan announced today he will not seek re-election and retire effective Jan. 1, 2024, after three terms in office.
“After 33 years with Warren County and 42 years of public service I have decided not to run for another term as Warren County Treasurer after my current term expires on December 31, 2023. It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve the residents of Warren County for over three decades," he wrote in a statement.
Swan has received praise from county leadership.
“Treasurer Swan has served Warren County very well during his tenure and we are very appreciative of all he has done for Warren County. We wish him the very best for a happy and healthy retirement,” Kevin Geraghty, the current chair of the Board of Supervisors said.
As director of real property tax services and as treasurer, his term running the county's finances included the 2008 economic downturn caused by the housing mortgage crisis, and the pandemic, both critical times for the county's finances.
"Mike Swan as our county treasurer brought to the table hands on experience and decades of knowledge," said Rachel Seeber, the former chair of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. "His service to our county has been exemplary."
Town of Queensbury Supervisor John Strough said much the same.
"I wish him good luck. I think he's done a great job and wish him the best in retirement," Strough said. He said Swan has always been accessible, accurate and responsive to questions and concerns, he said.
"I think that's a very valuable asset," Strough said.
Open accessible.
In a press release, Swan said he was proudest of accomplishments that included:
- Restoring the Warren County Treasurer’s office role as a full-time, independent advocate for the taxpayer.
- Instituting a random audit program and enforcement policy to ensure a better and more accurate collection of Occupancy Tax.
- Spearheading the effort to place the proceeds from the sale of Westmount into a reserve fund to pay the legacy cost. This will ensure that in the future Warren County taxpayers will not be paying additional taxes for these expenses.
- Saving the county $50,000 in annual banking fees by moving all of the county’s banking to a local bank.
- And others.
Swan served as Warren County Director of Real Property Tax Services for 21 years before being elected Treasurer in 2011.
He closed by saying: “Thank you to the voters who elected me three times as your Treasurer. To all who helped me throughout my career with Warren County, thank you, I could never have achieved the level of success I did without you. I will miss the job and the people. Most of all, thank you to my family for their steadfast support. Now it is time for me to open the next chapter in my life with them and enjoy retirement.”