Deschutes County sheriff’s contest now a two-man race

Just one day after the filing deadline for the May primary, one candidate for Deschutes County sheriff says he plans to drop out of the race.

Will Gibbons, a retired law enforcement officer and La Pine resident, told NewsChannel 21 by phone Wednesday afternoon he plans to exit the race by Friday.

Gibbons said he doesn’t plan on supporting either of the two other candidates — sheriff’s deputy Eric Kozowski and current Sheriff Shane Nelson

Kozowski said Wednesday he hopes to bring new leadership to an agency beset by problems, but Nelson, appointed last year to succeed retiring Larry Blanton, said he’s already providing that leadership, along with some changes to the office.

“The citizens shouldn’t have a rubber stamp management transition,” Kozowski said.

Kozowski was hired as a deputy in 2010 by Blanton. Previously, he worked for the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office.

For Nelson, who has been the county’s top cop for less than a year, it’s about serving the community first.

“I’ve only had eight months in this position. There are a lot of things I want to sort through and look through,” Nelson said.

Nelson said he’ll be professional throughout the race and provide his ideas on where he want to take the sheriff’s office.

“Anyone has the right to run for office, and I respect that right,” Nelson said.

Kozowski said he wants to look at the agency as a whole and what can be done to improve morale.

“I want to look at it as if we’re starting a brand new sheriff’s office, as if it never existed, and building it from the ground up,” Kozowski said.

Kozowski said it was time for him to step forward and offer necessary leadership and reform.

Just last week, sheriff’s Capt. Erik Utter resigned his post for what he called a personal mistake. A week or so earlier, Capt. Scott Beard was fired for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sheriff’s office.

“Why are we having these senior level leaders in this organization, who should be setting the example, having to resign or being fired because they were criminally indicted?” Kozowski asked.

Nelson said his office is working toward regaining the public’s trust.

“We’ll do the right and that type of behavior won’t be tolerated, we will root out the people that don’t belong working in this office,” Nelson said.

Nelson said his goal as sheriff is making sure his office is serving the citizens.

“My job is serving the citizens of this county, I’m always running for my job, I don’t care if it’s every four years, it’s my job to serve,” Nelson said.

After Gibbons’ withdraws, state law dictates the two-man race will take place at the November general election.