Veteran Jefferson County Sheriff Chief Criminal Deputy Joe Nole is set to be sworn in as acting sheriff at noon on Friday, Aug. 29 in Jefferson County Superior Court.

Jefferson County commissioners unanimously voted on Monday to appoint Nole as acting sheriff in the wake of the resignation of Sheriff Tony Hernandez, who took a job as police chief of Milton, Washington. Hernandez’s resignation goes into effect at noon, Aug. 29.

Hernandez recommended that Nole fill his shoes until either Wendy Davis or David Stanko is elected on Nov. 4. Whoever wins the four-year term takes office once the election is certified on Nov. 25.

“Even when I was coming up in the ranks, I looked up to him as one of the guys I wanted to be like,” Hernandez said of Nole on Monday. He said the department would be in “very good hands” if the board appointed Nole.

“My plan would be to continue in Tony’s footsteps and hold everything in check until the new sheriff takes office,” Nole said on Monday before the appointment.

Nole, who has been through the tenures of four sheriffs, said he did not run for sheriff because he didn’t want to deal with politics.

“I wasn’t ready for that. I still have a few years to put in. I just wasn’t ready to gamble, I guess,” Nole said.

Nole, 58, has been with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for 21 years. He supervises the detective bureau, front office staff, records division and evidence department. He also supervises and directs search and rescue operations, which can have as many as 50 volunteers.

Nole said he doesn’t anticipate any changes during the two months he’ll hold the position.

County Administrator Philip Morley said Nole has participated in budget meetings and has worked with Hernandez on labor and contract negotiations as well as personnel issues. He has also represented the sheriff’s office in interdepartmental work and was involved when the county convened a task force to look at the marijuana issue.

“As a result of that, it just makes sense that Mr. Nole is well-suited to continue the operation of the sheriff’s office,” Morley said. “He has the knowledge, has the ability and the experience to manage the sheriff’s office.”

Nole has bachelor’s degrees from the Evergreen State College and from Central Washington University.

“I’d feel honored if you were to allow me to do this, to have the confidence in me to do this,” Nole told the board before being chosen.

Commissioner Phil Johnson quipped, “My only concern is you’re probably overqualified.”

Of leaving the office in Nole’s hands, Hernandez said, “He’s always been a leader who led by example and has the respect of everybody in the department. I think he would do an excellent job.

“If there’s something that needs to be done and nobody else can do it, he’s that guy I always knew I could hand something off to and he would be able to get it done with little or no encouragement. He intuitively knew what he should be doing,” Hernandez said of Nole.

“He’s a very humble person. His résumé is impeccable.”

Hernandez said he has finished a first draft of the 2015 budget, but that there is plenty for Nole, and the next sheriff, to do.

What Hernandez has not done yet is announce a decision on whether to endorse Davis or Stanko in the 2014 general election.