BEND, OR -- The three-way race for Deschutes County Sheriff was short-lived. La Pine resident Will Gibbons was the first to file as a challenger against current Sheriff Shane Nelson. Gibbons tells KBND News he decided to bow out after talking with Sheriff Nelson and Deputy Eric Kozowski – both of whom are running for the position. "I had a three-hour conversation in his office, with Mr. Nelson, explained to him the problems I’ve seen with the department in the last five years. Mr. Kozowski called me yesterday [Wednesday], just as a meet and greet. I informed him then that I was dropping out, so as to give him an opportunity with Mr. Nelson to go to November." If there are only two candidates in a non-partisan race, the contest bypasses the May primary and is decided by voters in the fall.
Gibbons says Sheriff Nelson contacted him last week after he filed with the County Clerk's office. "We spent three hours talking; I explained to him everything I’ve seen in the last five years, how defunct I’ve seen it is based on my past experience and my level of education and my knowledge of law enforcement." Gibbons refused to disclose where or for how long he served in law enforcement, other than to say it was a city in Oregon. Sheriff Nelson, who has been in office less than a year, did not respond to KBND's request for comment.