Sue Mountstevens said she is entirely self-funded and has turned down offers of financial support.
And the Bristol magistrate of 15 years claims her three election rivals will be "hostage to decisions made in Westminster and Whitehall" because of their affiliation to major parties.
"I can confirm that I have been offered third party funding which I have declined," she said. "In contrast, the three other candidates will have all the resources of their central party machines behind them.
"Obviously if a party politician is elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner, then their London-based masters will demand their 'pound of flesh' sooner or later.
"At some stage the parties will dictate to their Commissioners the priorities that they want them to follow. They will be forced to follow the party line and will be in many respects, hostage to decisions made in Westminster and Whitehall.
"Only an independent will critically have the freedom to deliver local policing according to local need."
However, her rivals have all said they would make their own decisions and not be pressured by Westminster if elected.
Lib Dem candidate Pete Levy, a Bristol city councillor for Horfield, said: "Being a non-Independent candidate could be considered the advantage. I'm answerable, even at this stage, to a potentially huge number of like-minded people who will hold me to account over our shared values.
"I have access to a well-connected, well-informed party machine involved in both central and local government. I don't believe anyone is ever completely non-partisan. This would lead to the assumption that an independent candidate has never voted, supported a particular political campaign or organisation."
Conservative Mr Maddock, the former leader of Somerset County Council, said: "Look at my track record and tell me if anybody pulls my strings politically."
Dr John Savage, who is running for Labour, said he will listen to the public, first and foremost: "More is expected of our police while budgets are cut. There are no easy answers, but I will ensure the police service prioritises neighbourhood policing over privatisation and that the service really listens to the public it serves."
The PCC election will take place on November 15 and the successful candidate will replace the police authority in managing the police budget and holding the constabulary to account.
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