Les Presmyk
Walter Lesley Presmyk is an American mining engineer and politician who has served as the 13th Arizona State Mine Inspector since 2025. Governor Katie Hobbs appointed Presmyk to the position in September 2025 following the resignation of Paul Marsh. A member of the Republican Party, Presmyk announced his intention to run for a full term in the 2026 [Arizona elections#State Mine Inspector|2026] general election.
Career
Mining engineering
Presmyk earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the University of Arizona in 1975 and worked as a mining engineer for the Salt River Project for 30 years. He retired in 2017 after 41 years of mining engineering experience including on projects in Arizona, Mississippi, and Mexico.Presmyk was awarded the 2017 Carnegie Mineralogical Award by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, which "honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation and education."
Gilbert Town Council
Presmyk served on the Gilbert Town Council from 1999 to 2011, including serving three terms as vice mayor. During his time on the council, he supported new bus shelters for transit riders and finding a permanent site for the Gilbert Days Rodeo.In 2010, Presmyk and fellow councilmember Jenn Daniels formed "Operation Welcome Home" to honor the city's veterans. The program was recognized by the Arizona State Legislature and commissioned by the city to create a new memorial park in Gilbert by 2017, however the project was abandoned in 2023 amidst financial mismanagement and Presmyk resigned from the organization’s board due to lack of transparency by its director, Lisa Rigler.