ENTERPRISE — The race for Wallowa County sheriff has been whittled down for now to just the incumbent, Sheriff Ryan Moody, as challenger James Dickenson has dropped his candidacy.

“Today I pulled my name in the sheriff’s race,” Dickenson said in a Jan. 2 email. “After much thought, this is the best decision for my family. I have an old back injury that could possibly cause some problems down the road.”

Dickenson spent 22 years full-time with the Franklin County (Washington) Sheriff’s Office, based in Pasco. He retired as a senior sergeant of patrol in January 2017. A graduate of Hermiston High School, he attended the Washington State Law Enforcement Academy, according to his candidate filing form.

Dickenson and his wife, Terri, to whom he’s been married 40 years, have five children, the youngest a senior at Enterprise High School. They’ve been visiting the county for many years, though they just moved here in 2021.

He said he’s confident in the choice of Moody to replace Joel Fish, who resigned effective Jan. 1 to move back to North Carolina to care for his aging mother. The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners appointed Moody to replace Fish in December upon Fish’s recommendation.

“I have never met Sheriff Moody, but I’m confident that Sheriff Fish would not have recommended him if he wasn’t suited for this position,” Dickenson said. “I’m sure we are in good hands.”

March 13 is the deadline to file to run in the May 21 primary election. The general election is Nov. 5.

Wallowa County Clerk Sandy Lathrop said Friday that positions such as sheriff require approval by the state to ensure candidates have the proper law-enforcement credentials. There can be write-in candidates, but they must file the proper paperwork.

“Then, it’s up to them to let the voters know,” Lathrop said.