Biography
Democrat: Term expires January, 2011.
Elective Office: State Senate 1997 to present; House of Representatives 1991 to 1997; Mason County Commissioner 2005-2009; Port of Hoodsport, Commissioner 1988 to 1994; Mason County PUD #1, Commissioner 1999 to 2002.
Special Committees: Energy Northwest (ENW) Executive Board, Member.
Civic Activities: Recipient of "Stanley O. McNaughton Champion of Freedom Award" from the Washington Policy Center; Island Enterprises, Board of Directors, Vice Chairman; Mason County Historical Society; Washington Farm Forestry Association; Kitsap/Mason Farm Bureau; WA Public Utilities District Assoc./Heritage Life member.
Employment: General Partner, Sheldon Properties, a family-owned tree farm on the Olympic Peninsula selling high-grade saw logs, gravel, and oysters; 1986 - 2004: Executive Director, Economic Development Council of Mason County (non-profit organization); Prior to 1986: Economic development with Northwest Indian Tribes.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Wharton School of Finance & Commerce, University of Pennsylvania (1969); Master's degree in Business Administration, University of Washington (1972).
Personal: Wife: Linda; Daughter: Alexandra.