A white supremacist in northern Idaho is running for sheriff of Bonner County, saying his views on race will not influence his approach to the office.

Shaun Patrick Winkler, 33, is running against incumbent Sheriff Daryl Wheeler and Ponderay police Officer Tim Fry for the Republican nomination on May 15, according to the Bonner County Daily Bee.

The winner of the primary contest will face independent candidate Rocky Jordan in November.

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Winkler told the Bee that his ties to the Aryan Nation and Church of Jesus Christ-Christian won’t influence his agenda.

“Whether people will believe me or not, it will be entirely up to their own discretion,” the Bee quoted Winkler as saying.

He said he was motivated to run because of the increasing federal reach into Bonner County, the newspaper reported. He also said he doesn’t think enough is being done to curb drugs and sex offenders.

“I don’t look at myself as a vigilante; I look at myself as a concerned citizen,” Winkler told the Bee.

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