PORT ANGELES — It was a bit like grade school Tuesday evening at the final forum between Clallam County sheriff’s candidates Joe Martin and Soeren Poulsen.

Name one thing you admire about each other, both were asked.

“I’ll say he’s stayed the course,” said Martin, the current sheriff, parceling out a rare compliment to his opponent.

Likewise for Poulsen, hitting on a topic from earlier in the debate: “I will acknowledge that my opponent is a people person.”

Their words wrapped up an hour-long debate on technology, school safety and other issues in a videotaped candidates forum hosted by Peninsula News Network anchor Dennis Bragg, with Peninsula Daily News Executive Editor Rex Wilson and Commentary Page Editor Paul Gottlieb.

The program will be cablecast at 7 tonight on Wave Broadband channel 3 and will air again before the Nov. 2 general election, Bragg said.

Different issues

Tuesday’s topics strayed from what have become the main issues of this year’s race, including the question of 24-hour deputy coverage on the county’s West End and how to fund it.

Poulsen, 60, said his priority is 24-hour coverage (Martin has previously said there isn’t enough funding in the department’s budget), but he also plans to add equipment, such as video cameras in patrol cars, work to stop the flow of drug traffic into the county, and make the department more customer-friendly.

Martin, 70, said he won’t make many staffing changes to the department if elected, but he is currently working to line up potential new hires to absorb several upcoming retirements.