Incumbent Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Stanko is set to be challenged by one of his own detectives on the ballot this fall.

Joe Nole, a detective with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, has officially declared his candidacy for sheriff, citing his resume of 35 years in Jefferson County law enforcement, with 28 of those years served with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

During those 28 years, Nole has held the positions of patrol deputy, detective, chief criminal deputy, appointed sheriff and undersheriff. During the other seven years he served in county law enforcement, Nole was a backcountry ranger with the U.S. Forest Service on the Quilcene Ranger District.

“I believe we need a change in leadership at the sheriff’s office,” Nole said. “With this outpouring of community support, and my personal conviction that it’s the right thing to do, I made the decision to run.”

Nole drew contrasts between himself and Stanko in three areas, starting with their respective community roots. While Nole has lived in Jefferson County for the past 33 years, he described Stanko as coming from “a large metropolitan area in another state,” and likewise acquiring his law enforcement experience “in a large agency” there.

“I know the local people, and experience every day the quality of life a rural community can offer,” Nole said. “This is not the big city. Most of us live here by choice. We don’t want to live in a big city, and experience that hectic, crowded, hurried lifestyle, or the impersonal law enforcement service that goes with it.”

Nole drew a second contrast between himself and Stanko in terms of leadership, criticizing what he sees as the unnecessary spending of county tax dollars on an outside consultant “from a large metropolitan agency” to help develop a strategic plan for the Sheriff’s Office.

“My local experience and training have taught me what is needed to develop an appropriate strategic plan for the Sheriff’s Office,” Nole said. “I do not need to rely on the advice and guidance of hired individuals unfamiliar with Jefferson County, and the operation of rural agencies, to tell me how to do this.”

Nole claimed staff retention and morale have suffered as a result of Stanko’s leadership, and touted the value of his own “cultural knowledge, local experience and necessary training” in retaining and attracting “quality, dedicated” personnel.

Nole also argued his “training and experience in personnel management,” and “plain old ability to treat others how I would want to be treated,” would reduce, and perhaps even eliminate, most of the legal complaints the Sheriff’s Office has received in the last four years.

“In my 28 years with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, I have not seen so many lawsuits filed against the Sheriff’s Office,” Nole said. “These lawsuits, and tens of thousands of dollars in settlement payments caused by administrative errors and unprofessional conduct, have become the norm.”

Rather than “trying to impress the public,” Nole believes the sheriff’s office should focus on providing the public “what they pay us for,” by maintaining “a positive presence” in the community, helping those in need, and enforcing the laws “in a compassionate manner,” compatible with county and community standards and expectations.

Nole identified homelessness, mental health, substance abuse and adequate staffing as among the bigger issues facing the sheriff’s office, especially with what he deemed “scarce” government funds.

“These issues must be addressed by strong community support, smarter approaches to crime prevention and a close partnership with other county government departments, to thoughtfully and responsibly administer our precious public funds for the common good of the citizens of Jefferson County,” Nole said.

At the same time, Nole described the need for more deputies as common not only to his 28 years in the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, but also to other counties and law enforcement agencies.

“Most law enforcement agencies could use more staff, and face the same dangers and challenges as we do,” Nole said. “It goes with the territory. I will always be an advocate for adequate staffing and officer safety at the Sheriff’s Office. But I also understand that our limited county tax dollars need to be shared by all of us in county government. We all need to work together and do our best to serve the citizens of Jefferson County.”