PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County GOP has declined to endorse Richard Brees, the candidate for sheriff who is running as a Republican.

“The executive committee feels a background in law enforcement should be a component of a qualified candidate’s history for this office,” said Barbara Bradford, county GOP chairwoman.

Brees, 56, a Port Ludlow real estate broker and developer, has none.

Brees said Sunday he was not surprised by the party’s action, taken at a meeting last Monday.

“My candidacy has always been about change, accountability and the people of Jefferson County, not an affiliation with any political party.”

Under Jefferson County’s system of government, set by the state Legislature, all elected offices are partisan.

(In Clallam County, which has its own county charter, only county commissioners and the prosecuting attorney run as partisan candidates.)

The incumbent sheriff, Mike Brasfield, is running for re-election as a Democrat.