SEQUIM — Clallam County Sheriff Joe Martin has moved to officially discipline a deputy sergeant running against him for talking about a pending lawsuit during a candidate forum Thursday.

The comments were made during a forum hosted by the Sequim Rotary Club when both candidates were off-duty and in plainclothes.

During the forum, Bill Benedict, who is challenging Martin in the all-mail Oct. 19-Nov. 7 election, characterized the abrupt departure of a former undersheriff last November as due to his being “fired.”

In front of the group, Martin told Benedict he was being officially reprimanded.

Benedict called the public reprimand “highly inappropriate.”

Later, Martin said it “saddens and disappoints” him to witness “the behavior exhibited by this employee.”

Benedict received documents Friday, he said, that outline allegations against him and said he was told to report to Undersheriff Rich Sill on Monday morning.

Benedict said he believes Martin is trying to fire him, and further noted that he is “not a victim,” but a candidate for a political office.

Benedict said Martin is trying to define the debate and restrict criticism of him.

Martin said Benedict was discussing a pending lawsuit against the department, which he says is against policy, even if Benedict is a candidate.

Martin also said Benedict had been warned.

Benedict denied that he had been warned and said he will fight the discipline.

However, he said he would not refer to the former employee being “fired” until the matter is resolved.