PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman will run for sheriff in 2006.
Chapman, 42, made the announcement Tuesday after what he said were months of considering a candidacy and reaching his decision late last week.
“The need has arisen for new leadership,” Chapman said.
“I can’t sit back. The need is too great. The job is too important.”
Incumbent Sheriff Joe Martin declined to comment on Chapman’s announcement.
“I’m too busy taking care of the department and citizens,” Martin said.
“That’s what my focus is right now.”
Martin announced last month that he would seek re-election.
Regardless of the outcome of the sheriff’s campaign, Chapman — the only Republican on the three-member Board of Commissioners — said he will not run again for his commissioner’s term, which will expire in 2008.
“I’m laying my political capital on the line,” Chapman said.
Speaking of his supporters, he added, “These men and women didn’t sign up with someone who’s just hedging his bets.”
Chapman also said his interest in becoming sheriff has long preceded the department’s current turmoil, which has seen one deputy fired, a sergeant resign, an undersheriff suddenly retire and a captain receive a reprimand.
“It didn’t happen because of some headlines,” he said of allegations that Deputy Dwane Hayden conducted an extramarital affair on county time and that Sgt. Dave Fontenot had appropriated property instead of logging it into evidence.
And Chapman promised not to use his commissioner’s position to campaign against Martin.
“I will not be a sitting critic of the sheriff as a county commissioner,” he said.
“I’ll work with him and support him. The politics will take care of themselves.”
