Dems propose change to limit maverick to one elected office

OLYMPIA — State Sen. Tim Sheldon has rubbed Democrats the wrong way for years.

A conservative who represents a rural south Puget Sound district, Sheldon frequently has sided with Republicans on key issues — helping to kill a gay-rights bill in 2005, for example.

Democrats and liberal groups have accused him of being a Republican in all but name. They poured more than $250,000 into an unsuccessful effort to defeat him in the 2006 primary.

Now some of Sheldon's Democratic colleagues are taking another swipe.

They've proposed bills and a constitutional amendment to prohibit legislators from holding another paid elected position — a shot at Sheldon's other job as a Mason County commissioner.

Senate Bill 6588, set for a committee hearing Thursday, would prohibit any "city, county or statewide elected official" from holding "more than one office at a time," with the exception of "voluntary" positions that pay less than $500 a month.

Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, one of the bill's co-sponsors, acknowledged it was "provoked by his [Sheldon's] situation" but argued it is good public policy.

Kline said legislators who also hold local offices are inclined to take an overly parochial view, rather than "focusing on the state's issues."

In the House, a similar bill, House Bill 2800, and a constitutional amendment have been introduced.

"I have nothing against Tim, I just feel like there are so many people who are qualified to hold one of those positions that it's not a moral thing to hold both and get two full-time salaries," said Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo, the sponsor of the House proposals. "He's the poster child for it."

Sheldon, who is paid $74,000 as a county commissioner and $42,000 as a state senator, said the two jobs are not in conflict. Besides, he said, voters repeatedly have elected him to both positions.

"What this is is just a spiteful poke in the eye," Sheldon said. "We've got more important things to do down here."

Sheldon, D-Potlatch, has been a Mason County commissioner since 2005 and served in the House from 1991 through 1997, and in the Senate since then. He represents a sprawling rural district that covers parts of four South Puget Sound counties.

He describes himself as a maverick and said his presence in the Senate Democratic caucus brings a rural perspective that wouldn't otherwise be heard.

"I didn't come to Olympia to make friends. I came to represent my district," Sheldon said.

Sheldon earned the enmity of Democrats by supporting Dino Rossi for governor and George Bush for president in 2004. Last year, though, he endorsed Barack Obama for president.

For several years over the past decade, the state Senate was closely divided, making Sheldon a key swing vote. He frequently joined Republicans to push pro-business bills and block more liberal portions of the Democrats' agenda.

In exchange, Republicans let him keep his legislative committee chairmanship when they gained a Senate majority in 2000.

Kline has made no secret of his disdain for Sheldon. In 2007, he said Sheldon should "be more honest with voters about his party affiliation, and he should have more integrity than to sit in our caucus."

Sheldon's power faded when Democrats took a big legislative majority a few years ago. They now outnumber Republicans 31-18 in the state Senate and 61-37 in the House.

Sheldon no longer has a committee chairmanship.

One other lawmaker could be affected by the proposals: Sen. Bob McCaslin, a Republican who also gets paid $750 a month as a part-time Spokane Valley City Council member.

McCaslin, in the Legislature since 1981, said he only ran for the council because Republicans concerned with city spending couldn't find another candidate.

"You can't get people to run for office now. How is this going to get people to run for office?" he said.

Kline said he wished there were "a Democrat in the mix" who would be affected by the bill so it wouldn't be viewed as just a "vindictive" attack on Sheldon.

Reminded that Sheldon identifies as a Democrat, Kline said, "I meant a real Democrat."

Material from The Seattle Times archives is included in this report. Jim Brunner: 360-236-8267 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com