Tim Sheldon

State Sen. Tim Sheldon (D-Potlatch), who controversially broke with party ranks in 2004 to endorse both Dino Rossi and George W. Bush, is staying neutral this time around.

The Olympian's Brad Shannon is reporting that Sheldon, who is running for Mason County Council this year, has decided to stay out of it with the exception of endorsing Barack Obama for president.

“I’m out of the race. I’m not endorsing … I’m not picking a side. I’ve learned my lesson to stay out of those things. I think politicians care more who is endorsing who,’’ Sheldon told Shannon.

PolitickerWA.com's weekly series, Know Your County Chairs, is back today with Mason County Democratic Party Chair Roslynne Reed (D-Hoodsport).

PolitickerWA.com: How long have been the Mason County Democratic Party Chair?

Roslynne Reed: Two and a half years.

At their nomination meeting Wednesday night, The Olympian reports that Mason County Democrats voted to endorse Roslynne Reed as their official nominee for county commissioner, position 2. In a move that was unorthodox, though not unexpected, the party voted not to nominate the incumbent, Tim Sheldon, who happens to hold a second job as a Democratic State Senator.

Reed, who is the Mason County Democratic Party Chair released a statement upon the announcement of her victory, which was won by a considerable margin. Reed receieved 59 weighted Precinct Committee Officer votes to Sheldon's 1, and according to The Olympian Sheldon's sole vote came from himself.

Does that headline sound confusing? Don't feel bad.

Sen. Tim SheldonTim Sheldon is a state Senator, but he is also a Mason County Commissioner. Roslynne Reed (D-Hoodsport), a retired air-traffic controller, thinks that Sheldon has bit off more than he can chew in his dual role of State Senator and County Commissioner. So to help remedy that, she is running for his County Commissioner seat.

"I've been to meetings in district 2," Reed told the Olympian, "and I don't see the representation that should be there."

State Sen. Tim Sheldon (D-Hoodsport), the self proclaimed "maverick" who endorsed both George W. Bush and Dino Rossi in 2004, has announced he is running to keep his seat as a Mason County Councilman according to the Kitsap Caucus blog.