PORT TOWNSEND — Andy Pernsteiner was appointed and sworn in as Sheriff by the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners on Monday. He will serve in the role at Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office until an election is held in November.
Pernsteiner served as undersheriff to former Sheriff Joe Nole, who retired Jan. 3.
The candidates were Pernsteiner and Jefferson County Sheriff Office (JCSO) Deputy Art Frank. Sergeant Brett Anglin, previously a candidate, chose not to complete the application process according to County Commissioner Greg Brotherton.
“You know, it really comes down to, do we stay the course? Or do we make changes at this point?” Brotherton said.”I think that’s what I saw in most of the public comments that we received here and elsewhere.”
Brotherton said that he felt his responsibility in the appointment process was to maintain stability, rather than to impact significant change. He said he would leave it up to the voters to seek change in November’s election, if they see fit.
Brotherton added that when things are going well, his experience is that he doesn’t hear much about it, when things aren’t going well, generally he hears about it.
“I haven’t really heard a lot about the sheriff’s department,” Brotherton said. “Maybe we’re just not hearing the issues.”
Brotherton said he’s seen Pernsteiner work well within the county system and as a steward of public money in his capacity as board chair of Jeffcom 911 Communications. Brotherton serves on the board with both Pernsteiner and Frank.
Eisenhour said that the decision had stolen her sleep for more than a week, and that she whole-heartedly supports Pernsteiner and his work.
“I have heard a lot of concern in the community about what’s going on at other levels of government and how there may be some lawlessness coming,” Eisenhour said. “Well, we’re seeing it unfold as we watch what’s going on at the federal level. I’m concerned for our community members who don’t fit the description of white male.”
Pernsteiner said he’s been with JCSO for 27 years, with 18 of those years in a leadership position and the last 5½ years as undersheriff.
Pernsteiner said that he’s grateful for the support he’s received from deputies within JCSO. Also, he expressed appreciation for the letters of support sent in from leaders in local law enforcement and fire fighting, as well as the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s office and County Administrator Mark McCauley.
Pernsteiner also said that he will be running for sheriff in November’s special election.
“I want to thank my wife for sticking with me all these 27 years,” Pernsteiner said. “I’m sure going into the election this year it’s probably going to be quite the event. I’ve never done political stuff before, so this will be interesting.”
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) appointed Pernsteiner as the acting-sheriff in January as a stop-gap while Jefferson County Democrats gathered applicants for a longer term role.
A special election will be held in November, when voters will decide who will complete Nole’s existing term. Voters will decide on sheriff again in 2026.
Nole was present for public comment and offered support for Pernsteiner’s installation, as he had previously.
“He believes in the same democratic ideals and understands the importance and fairness of prioritizing mental health challenges, substance abuse, and homelessness with enforcing the law,” Nole said. “All this with the goal of breaking the cycle of arresting people, taking them to jail, and then arresting them again. Andy understands that life is complicated. Not everything has a simple black and white, one-size-fits-all solution.”
Nole said that Pernsteiner was the best undersheriff he could have asked for.
“Andy knows the operation of the sheriff’s office better than anyone currently there,” Nole said. “He is extremely knowledgeable of the budget process and budgetary limitations and how to navigate in that arena, keeping in mind all the other county departments who all are relying on the same pot of money.”
Frank, previously an undersheriff at JCSO, has been with the office for 10 years. He also serves as a fire commissioner in Quilcene. Before his time in Jefferson County, Frank was in law enforcement in California. His career in law enforcement spans 45-years.
Of the 21 people who spoke during public comment, 16 supported Frank being appointed as sheriff.
Linda Brewster, a precinct committee officer with Jefferson County Democrats said that she helped develop the questionaires and review process. She said Frank has vision, during public comment.
“When I first read the questionnaire responses of those candidates, my immediate impression was that there was only one candidate with the clarity of vision needed to lead the department and to get buy-in from the staff,” Brewster said.
Specifically, she noted that Frank led the JCSO to reach 85 percent completion of Law Enforcement Agency accreditation, previous to Nole’s time as Sheriff.
“Mr. Frank has watched for six years as subsequent leadership has left much of that work expire,” she said. “Accreditation will require Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to adopt best professional standards and to meet those standards every four years. Why would we not want that?”
Dudley-Nollette, said that the process of appointing has been a challenge so early in her tenure as commissioner. The presence of so many Frank supporters complicated her decision, she said.
While Frank had much stronger support in the room than Pernsteiner, Dudley-Nollette said that Pernsteiner received a much stronger show of support by written testimony, 29 letters, leading up to the appointment.
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com
