Clallam: Undersheriff Martin appointed sheriff by county commissioners

PORT ANGELES — Joe Martin started the day uncertain if he would be Clallam County’s next sheriff.

That all changed when the county commissioners revealed their unanimous choice Tuesday morning.

Shortly after 1 p.m., a smiling and freshly sworn-in Martin was in turn swearing in 17 of his deputies and posing for photos in Superior Court Judge Ken Williams’ courtroom.

Beside Martin, 69, was his wife, Maryann, and four generations of his family, Williams and his predecessor, Joe Hawe.

“I don’t think in the history of the sheriff’s office has it ever happened that one sheriff has been glad to turn over the reins to another sheriff,” Hawe joked after Williams swore in Martin.

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The rest of the story appears in Wednesday’s Peninsula Daily News Clallam County edition.

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