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TimSheldon.jpg
Sen. Tim Sheldon, center, is one of two Democrats who have said they'll work with the Senate's 23 Republicans to form a new caucus that currently holds a 25-24 vote (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Lawmaker's wife tells top Democrat put on big boy pants

February 11, 2013 @ 5:03 pm (Updated: 5:34 am - 2/12/13 )

Who needs Washington, D.C. for political intrigue? A spicy clash in our Washington involves the chair of the state Democratic Party, two state Senators, and now a Senator's wife.

First, the players in this drama.

State Senator Tim Sheldon has served 22 years in the Washington State Legislature as a Democrat representing the 35th District, which includes all of Mason County and parts of Thurston, Kitsap and Grays Harbor Counties. Sheldon has earned the reputation of being a maverick by consistently bucking his party's agenda and by working across the aisle to get legislation passed.

State Senator Rodney Tom is from Medina. In 2002, Tom was elected to the state House of Representatives as a Republican. He was reelected in 2004. In 2006, Tom switched to the Democratic Party and won the senate seat he still holds. In March of last year, Tom joined with fellow Democratic Sens. Jim Kastama, Tim Sheldon and 22 Senate Republicans to push through a revised budget bill. A few months ago Tom announced he would again caucus with the Republicans.

Enter stage left, Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz. The party has censured both Sheldon and Tom for "gross disloyalty" and "perfidious behavior," cutting off their future access to party funds and mailing lists. I wrote about the exchanges between Pelz and the two lawmakers last week for this story: Top Democrat state senators are 'not invited to our party.'

One more player has now stepped into the spotlight. Sheldon's wife. Linda Sheldon is standing by her man in this email she sent to Pelz. She tells him to put on his "big boy panties" and learn to compromise.

Dear Dwight,

Thank you for your kind personal letter trashing my husband. I thought it merited a reply.

First of all, his name is Tim SHELDON, not SHELTON (or was that a Freudian slip?) He has served in the Legislature for 22 years, and you would think by now you would know his name. Maybe that's what he means by the Democrats in Olympia being "Seattle-centric." If you can't remember the rural legislators' names, how could you POSSIBLY remember their constituents' issues?

Apparently you think you and your party (which also happens to be MY party) were betrayed. Well now, let's see - last year the Democrats controlled BOTH chambers, and couldn't squeeze out a budget in 2 special sessions, costing our already financially destitute state a tidy little sum of bucks -- until several Democrats (Tim included) got tired of sitting on their asses doing nothing at the taxpayers' expense, while a handful of party hacks spit at one another behind closed doors and came up empty-handed. So they WENT ROGUE (ie, reached across the aisle to get a compromise). Public sentiment, if you will recall, was behind them, and you guys wearing the big party hats looked pretty damn foolish. And the State got a budget before a third special session had to be called. Now, if that's BETRAYAL of the public (excuse me - I meant PARTY), then I'll wear a TRAITOR t-shirt anytime!

I'm sorry you feel you wasted a big $25,000 on Rodney. And we will really miss your usual donation ($0.00) to Tim's campaigns. But then, I understand that you feel you must take your ball and go home.

If you are so distressed about the legislation coming down the tracks under the Majority Coalition rule, I suggest you put on your big boy panties, admit you were politically bested and learn to WORK with the new coalition to get compromises you can live with. Otherwise, it's completely their game. Fight it, stamp your feet, call names, dig in and you will lose big-time. As a Democrat, that would not make me happy.

I'm not sure exactly how you plan to censure Tim and Rodney - maybe duct tape? And YOU have ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT to say THEY have no right to call themselves Democrats. My dog could be a Democrat - there is no application, sign-up, litmus test, educational requirement, membership fee, vetting process, inquisition. You either BELIEVE you are, according to your principles, or you don't. Waving your Magic D Wand will not banish them from the club.

When you denigrate Tim and Rodney, you denigrate the beliefs of all those who voted for them, support them and consider themselves Democrats. Do you really want to tell all those D voters they can take a hike? That's going to piss off a lot of people… including ME, a lifelong liberal who just happens to be able to see the BIG PICTURE when you can't.

Where can I get a TRAITOR t-shirt?

Linda Honan Sheldon

I talked with Linda, who describes herself as a liberal Democrat. She's hoping Pelz understands her sense of humor, but also gets her point.

Pelz, chair of the state Democrats, responded to Mrs. Sheldon this way:

Linda, I am sure you are a wonderful person, and I have enjoyed our brief meetings, but you really should not waste your time by writing me long e-mail messages.

I have zero respect for your husband. He will hold no place of importance in the history of our state other than being admired as one of our most successful self-promoters, and double dippers.

His prime value will be as an object lesson for political science professors in our state, who when asked whether party labels mean anything, will be able to answer "No", and point to the obscure State Senator who called himself a Democrat but endorsed George Bush for President, Dino Rossi and Rob McKenna for Governor, and opposed his centrist colleague Derek Kilmer for Congress.

When Tim retires he will be able to gather around himself the people who respect him. That meeting will take place in your kitchen.

Dwight

To that, Mrs. Sheldon says, "Our kitchen table is bigger than he might realize."

I have a feeling this drama is to be continued...

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (55)


  • Add A Comment

  • Skykomish2 wrote...
    Its time
    February 12, 2013 1:50 pm
    For the 3rd party, which I believe most of us belong to. I'd call it the Realist Party, but it starts with an "R". So lets call it The Practical Party. We members of The Practical Party understand that Black and White is the stuff of newsprint. There are shades of gray and there are colors, too. We need to work WITH each other, because thats where the majority of us live. We go to work every day to try to make ends meet. We all want more, but we know that if we're satisfied with life its a whole lot easier to live. And after work, we come home and listen to those lawmakers that make so much more than we do spend more taxes than we can afford to pay, and we hear of spending cuts that cost us as individuals more in the end. Lets pay our lawmakers a reasonable finite SALARY and when they don't get the job done, they work overtime for no more $$$ until they get it done. Bet a lot of compromise happens overnight! Its time for The Practical Party!!
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    Can you imagine your wife or husband firing off a letter like this to a business acquaintance?
    February 12, 2013 2:03 pm
    Sounds like only one individual in the Sheldon household wears big boy pants.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • pinbalwyz wrote...
    Linda Sheldon
    February 16, 2013 3:36 am
    Linda doesn't dictate to Tim--far from it. Possibly the opposite is the case. In any event, it'd be healthier if she were to focus on her own pet issues and rest assured Tim is quite competent in feathering his own nest. Linda made a mistake in sticking her neck out publicly on this issue. People should leave her alone, or, alternatively, welcome her involvement in something less pernicious. Politics can be an ugly business. Folks should leave Tim's wife out of it despite herself. -amicuscuria.com/wordpress-
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    CH and Lawn
    February 12, 2013 2:18 pm
    Why are you both afraid of strong women?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • William Lawn wrote...
    Reread my post and get back to me, dope
    February 12, 2013 3:23 pm
    I said wife or husband, i.e., spouse.

    To say that would be inappropriate in business is an understatement.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kato1967 wrote...
    Tim Sheldon
    February 12, 2013 9:05 pm
    Senator Sheldon has more integrity in his pinky fingernail than Pelz does in his whole body. I used to live in his district and for many years voted for him and the other sane Democrat in this state, Brad Owen. Keep up the good work, Senator Sheldon.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    strong women?
    February 12, 2013 9:27 pm
    like when your woman is in the driver seat and you are in the passenger seat? I'm the king in my castle. I walk in front of my lady unlike you. Maybe your she is a he?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diverphil wrote...
    WOW CH!!
    February 14, 2013 9:07 pm
    A real man walks beside his woman through life, not in front of her. Put down the bong dude!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • iamabacus wrote...
    party loyalty
    February 14, 2013 6:40 am
    Getting elected in a conservative district requires some interesting choices for a democrat. It is a difficult time for politicians. I really don't know how they can vote and act in the real interests of their constituents and still remain in office and maintain their own dignity. Sad times
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • pinbalwyz wrote...
    Party relevance
    February 16, 2013 2:40 am
    Tim is an astute experienced politician who masterfully cajoles his constituents while obscuring his record. While a wife's passionate defense of her spouse is understandable, Tim actually comes off better without it. The guy has made a successful career of setting up straw men like standing up to the party bosses for his constituents. Voters have also repeatedly indicated they don't care if he wears 2 hats (County Commissioner and State Senator). What they DO care about never gets sufficient press to matter at the polls: Corporate shill, Patron Saint to Biomassacre industrialists, Champion of cronyism and corruption via funneling (lawfully, unfortunately) public money to buds (such as the EDC) for service contracts w/o a bidding process, no oversight or accountability for such largess at taxpayer expense, judicial sanctions costing County taxpayers millions for multiple sins like failure to bargain in good faith, age discrimination, failure to bid out essential County services like garbage collection, squelching the Renaissance Faire project in Mason Co. for (the real reason) failing to 'feed the kitty' (EDC) in developing 240 acres as an event center near Belfair, special property tax consideration for real estate held by him and his family trust beyond what the law allows for in commercial timber designation, stonewalling his constituents while the pleaded for protection for industrial polluters such as Adage, refusing to allow citizens to have an advisory vote on the ballot regarding the biomassacre issue even though one of their numbers offered to pay any cost for it, thereby rendering it revenue neutral for the count. I could go on, but what Tim has become is an elected official more interested in what he can do for Tim than his constituents. What's most galling is he alloys his fiction of championing his constituents' interests independently with the base metal of hypocrisy. Photos of him literally sneering at local constituents from his seat as County Commissioner along with quotes indicating "it wouldn't matter" how many signatures residents gathered on a petition to him can be found on amicuscuria.com/wordpress his wife's 'loyalty' notwithstanding. I would agree that historically, Sheldon will hold a lasting place in WA. because candidates are able to run on issues which appeal to increasing numbers of independents rather than political party affiliation. Sheldon astutely recognized this trend and adroitly acted on it. While I loathe his environmental track record, and status as a corporate political agent, I admire his fiscal conservatism and insistence the voters' preference for a super-majority in our State legislature (as well as school bonds) for tax increases be honored. Many of his fellow Democrats treat their constituents as the 'enemy' in this regard. I, for one, like the man--I just don't like his record when it comes to the environment or the special interests he represents at the expense of our community.
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