PORT ANGELES — Sheriff challenger Bill Benedict promised Monday to “return trust and responsibility to the sheriff’s office,” while incumbent Sheriff Joe Martin said those qualities already are in place.
The candidates addressed the weekly meeting of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
Both candidates appeared to have honed sharper edges on their messages compared with their joint appearance a week ago at a Port Angeles Business Association meeting.
Even though their race won’t be decided until the all-mail election that ends Nov. 7, the two have already appeared at three campaign forums — two in Port Angeles and their first one in Sequim.
Benedict, 56, a sergeant in Martin’s department, said it was “difficult and awkward to run against your boss, but I have the courage, the determination and the support of the public to accept this challenge.”
He also vowed to tell the truth, “even if it is unpleasant, unpopular and inconvenient.”
Martin, 72, countered, “This election is all about experience, professional law enforcement experience. You don’t leap from a sergeant to a sheriff overnight and then figure things out when you get there.”
‘I’ve dealt with that’
As for turmoil that rocked the department nearly a year ago, Martin said his department has 90 employees, 86 of whom complied with regulations.
“The four [a deputy, a sergeant, an administrative assistant and an undersheriff] that were dealt with are gone,” Martin said.
“I’ve dealt with that.”
Benedict stressed two familiar themes — accreditation of the department by an independent agency, and cross-deputization of Quileute and Lower Elwha Klallam tribal officers.
He also recounted his Navy career “at the tip of the spear” as an aviator aboard an aircraft carrier.
Sheriff cites OPSCAN
Martin spoke of his years as the Makah tribal police chief, his career as a sheriff’s deputy and undersheriff, his credentials as a U.S. marshal and his experience with national and international law enforcement organizations.
He cited OPSCAN — the Olympic Public Safety Communications Alliance Network — as an example of his leadership.
“We pulled 42 agencies together without any turf battles, without any family squabbles,” he said.
He also is working to improve the two-lane portion of U.S. Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim.
“I call it ‘Suicide Alley,”‘ Martin said, noting that the state has allocated $32 million to widen the highway in 2009.
Martin has chaired the two-year “Driving 101” safety corridor campaign.