Recent Deschutes County sheriffs have followed a pattern. Politics as usual has been to resign before their term of office ends. It allows their chosen successor to be appointed and run as an incumbent.

Sheriff Shane Nelson does not plan to do that. He said he intends to serve out the term he was elected to by the voters. We think it is for the best.

Sheriff Les Stiles resigned in 2007. The Deschutes County Commission appointed Undersheriff Larry Blanton as sheriff. It enabled Blanton to run as the incumbent sheriff.

Sheriff Larry Blanton resigned in 2015. The Deschutes County Commission appointed Shane Nelson as sheriff in July 2015. Nelson could run for election as sheriff.

Sheriff Shane Nelson has endorsed Capt. William Bailey and said he plans to vote for him in the election. But he hasn’t taken the next step of resigning so Bailey might be appointed.

We don’t know why Stiles or Blanton resigned. It’s not an easy job. Their decisions may have not had anything to do with any possible political benefit for their chosen successor. But it’s hard to completely the divorce the act from the political.

Judges on the Oregon Supreme Court have often taken a similar step to resign before the end of their term. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Martha Walters retired two years into her six-year term. That enabled then-Gov. Kate Brown to choose her successor when it was not clear if a Democrat, Republican or independent would win the next election for governor. Walters said at the time she had stayed in office longer than she had planned.

If a person in office doesn’t believe they can continue to serve effectively, there’s obviously nothing wrong with resigning. But when elected, a candidate has made a commitment to serve for their term of office. When a candidate resigns and it comes with a real or perceived political tinge, it can be another chip in public confidence in government.