Two-time sheriff’s candidate Timothy Shotwell announced Monday that he is ending his third bid for the position.
Even though he announced his candidacy only two weeks ago, Shot-well said that personal issues and health concerns for his family members have led him to bow out of the 2014 race.
“Some unforeseen things have come up in the past couple weeks,” Shot-well said. “I’m just really saddened by it.”
He said he puts his full support behind Sheriff’s Sgt. Shane Gardner, who announced his candidacy in late March.
“Though my decision not to run was a difficult one, I am happy to say that I can enthusiastically endorse Shane Gardner,” Shotwell wrote in an email to The Columbian.
“I am confident that my dreams for the department and for the people of Clark County will be fulfilled with Shane’s leadership and guidance,” he said in the email.
Shotwell, 63, has 17 years of experience working at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, all spent in the corrections department. He challenged longtime Republican Sheriff Garry Lucas in 2006 and 2010, losing both times while earning 42 and 40 percent of the vote, respectively.
“I said I never give up, but I guess there is a time and place to say ‘Whoa!’ in the horse race,” Shotwell said.
Shotwell was the only candidate who had announced he would run as a Democrat for the partisan elected office.
Gardner and former sheriff’s deputy Ed Owens said they will run on nonpartisan platforms, and former sheriff’s office commanders John Graser and Chuck Atkins are running as Republicans.
“I hope the Democrats will realize that (Gardner) is really what they need,” Shotwell said. “He’s thinking of everybody. His thoughts are on everyone in the county.”
Six-term incumbent Lucas, 70, has not announced whether he will seek a new term. Candidate filing week begins May 12. The sheriff’s annual salary is $104,244.
