OLYMPIA — The state’s election watchdog will investigate a complaint that Clallam County Sheriff Joe Martin used his office to criticize his opponent.

Bill Benedict, a patrol sergeant in the department who is vying for Martin’s job in the election that ends Nov. 7, complained to the state Public Disclosure Commission that Martin’s public explanation on department letterhead for his public reprimand of Benedict violated state election laws.

In a letter to Benedict dated Oct. 20, Phil Stutzman, director of compliance for the commission, said the allegation would be investigated.

Benedict provided a copy of the letter to the Peninsula Daily News on Wednesday.

Martin did not return a call to his mobile phone the same day seeking comment.

Stutzman told the PDN that the investigation would not be complete before the end of the election.

“Unless we run into complications, we try to do them in 90 days, though we’re not always successful,” Stutzman said.

Election forum chiding

The election season scrape between the two candidates — who also happen to be superior and subordinate — started at a Sequim election forum early this month where Benedict referred to the controversial departure of a former undersheriff as because of being “fired.”

The nature of former Undersheriff Steve Snover’s departure in November 2005 is the subject of a lawsuit pending against the department.

In front of the group, Martin informed Benedict he was being reprimanded and within days began disciplinary procedures against him.

Martin then released a four-page statement billed as a “clarification of facts” on Sheriff’s Department letterhead, claiming Benedict’s statements were “false and misleading” and that it “saddens and disappoints” Martin to witness “the behavior exhibited by this employee.”

Martin also said Benedict should be disciplined for taking a position on a lawsuit pending against the department.

Those internal disciplinary charges were dropped within days, however, after a meeting between Martin, Benedict and Clallam County’s chief civil deputy.

Benedict also said he would refrain from saying Snover had been fired, although he maintained it was not a concession to Martin.

Benedict alleged in his complaint to the commission that Martin “used public facilities by issuing a press release about statements made during a debate by his opponent” in violation of state law, according to the letter from Stutzman.