Tim Sheldon

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Tim Sheldon has served two terms as a Democrat in the Washington State Senate, representing the 35th district, after serving four terms in the state House of Representatives.[1] In November 2006 he was re-elected to a third, four-year term.[2]

Sheldon currently serves on the Senate Transportation and Higher Education Committees.[3]

[edit] Conflicts with Democratic Party

Sheldon is frequently in conflict with the Democratic Party. On many votes he has sided with the Republican caucus, giving them a majority to defeat Democrat-supported legislation. While this helped him obtain influential committee placements when Republicans controlled the Senate, it has resulted in his losing power with the Democrats in control.[4]

In 2005 Sheldon was one of two Democrats (the other being Senator James Hargrove) to vote against HB 1515 (providing gays and lesbians with protection from discrimination in housing, employment and insurance). With the Democrats holding a 26-23 majority in the Senate, the bill failed by a single vote.[5] The following year, Republican Senator Bill Finkbeiner broke ranks with his own caucus to vote for a similar bill, HB 2661, which passed the senate by one vote and became law on June 7, 2006.[6]

In 2004 Tim Sheldon campaigned for George Bush and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. This outraged many Democrats.[7]

In 2002, the Mason County Democrats contributed money to Senator Sheldon's Green Party opponent, Marilou Rickert[8], but did not endorse a candidate in the race. In 2006, the Washington State Democratic Party, as well as several county Democratic parties openly supported Senator Sheldon's primary election opponent, Kyle Taylor Lucas[1], contributing both money and endorsements.[9][10]

Sheldon, who refers to himself as a "maverick," often responds to unhappy Democrats by saying that he represents his district before he represents his party. Critics claim he is not honest with his constituents about what principles he supports.[11]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ SDC - Senator Tim Sheldon. Senate Democratic Caucus. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  2. ^ 2006 General Election Results. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  3. ^ Senator Tim Sheldon. Washington State Senate. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  4. ^ Thomas, Ralph (March 27), “Meet the loneliest Democrat in Olympia”, The Seattle Times, <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003637693_sheldon27m.html> 
  5. ^ HB 1515 - 2005-06. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  6. ^ HB 2661 - 2005-06. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  7. ^ Thomas, Ralph (March 27), “Meet the loneliest Democrat in Olympia”, The Seattle Times, <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003637693_sheldon27m.html> 
  8. ^ Detailed Contributions to Candidates and Political Committees. Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  9. ^ Detailed Contributions to 2006 Legislative Candidates. Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  10. ^ Rachel La Corte. Democrats turn their back on senator. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  11. ^ Thomas, Ralph (March 27), “Meet the loneliest Democrat in Olympia”, The Seattle Times, <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003637693_sheldon27m.html> 

[edit] External links


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