Tim Sheldon
Tim Sheldon (Democratic Party) was a member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 35. He assumed office in 1997. He left office on January 9, 2023.
Sheldon (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Washington State Senate to represent District 35. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Sheldon served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1991 to 1997. He has also served as commissioner for the Mason County Commission.[1]
Biography
Sheldon earned his B.S. in economics from Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. He went on to receive his M.B.A. in business administration from the University of Washington in 1972.[2]
Sheldon worked as a manager for the Potlatch Beach Mutual Water Company. He was also involved in economic development for the Northwest Indian Tribes. From 1986 to 2004 he was the executive director for the Economic Development Council of Mason County. He is general partner for Sheldon Properties.
In 2010, Washington State political pundit Austin Jenkins called Sheldon "the Joe Lieberman of the [Democratic] caucus" and "a sure No vote on any budget that includes taxes."[3]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Sheldon was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Sheldon was assigned to the following committees:
- Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, Assistant Ranking Member, Energy & Technology
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee, Assistant Ranking Member
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment & Telecommunications, Vice chair |
| • Local Government |
| • Rules, Vice chair |
| • Transportation, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sheldon served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment & Telecommunications, Vice-Chair |
| • Rules |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Sheldon served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment & Telecommunications, Vice chair |
| • Rules, Vice chair |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sheldon served on the following committees:
| Washington committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Transportation |
Campaign themes
2014
Sheldon's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[4]
Taxes
- Excerpt: "I believe new taxes should be approved by at least a two-thirds majority vote. I am proud of leading the Majority Coalition in passing budgets without raising new taxes for the past two years. By using fiscal discipline, we have maintained healthy reserves and a constitutionally protected rainy day fund."
Transportation
- Excerpt: "I support public works projects and improving our rural transportation system. We need better roads and a transportation system that functions. I am deeply troubled by our State Department of Transportation, and will not support an increase of our gas taxes without a vote of the people and until there are meaningful reforms at DOT."
Education
- Excerpt: "I am concerned not just with the quality of our education, but with access to higher education. It’s not good enough to have the best schools in the world if no one can attend them, or if there isn’t room for new students."
Crime
- Excerpt: "Our crime rate is still unacceptably high. I am most concerned about crimes against women, children and seniors. I believe that we need to set firmer standards for release from prison and enact stiffer penalties for violent youth offenders and drunk drivers."
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2022
Tim Sheldon did not file to run for re-election.
2018
See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Washington State Senate District 35
Incumbent Tim Sheldon defeated Irene Bowling in the general election for Washington State Senate District 35 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tim Sheldon (D) | 52.0 | 30,874 |
 | Irene Bowling (D) | 48.0 | 28,470 | |
| Total votes: 59,344 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Washington State Senate District 35
Irene Bowling and incumbent Tim Sheldon defeated John Martin, Marco Brown, and George Sevier in the primary for Washington State Senate District 35 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Irene Bowling (D) | 38.2 | 14,165 |
| ✔ | | Tim Sheldon (D) | 35.1 | 13,027 |
| John Martin (R) | 12.3 | 4,551 | ||
| Marco Brown (R) | 10.1 | 3,746 | ||
| George Sevier (R) | 4.3 | 1,576 | ||
| Total votes: 37,065 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for 25 districts in the Washington State Senate took place in 2014. A blanket primary election took place on August 5, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 17, 2014. Incumbent Tim Sheldon (D) and Irene Bowling (D) defeated Travis Couture (R) in the primary. Bowling was defeated by Sheldon in the general election.[5][6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Tim Sheldon Incumbent |
54.4% | 24,317 | |
| Democratic | Irene Bowling | 45.6% | 20,375 | |
| Total Votes | 44,692 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
Irene Bowling |
35.2% | 10,524 | |
| Democratic | Tim Sheldon Incumbent |
33.4% | 9,971 | |
| Republican | Travis Couture | 31.4% | 9,371 | |
| Total Votes | 29,866 | |||
2010
- See also: Washington State Senate elections, 2010
Tim Sheldon was re-elected to the Washington State Senate District 35. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 17, 2010. He defeated Republican Nancy Williams in the November 2, 2010 General Election.
| Washington State Senate, District 35 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Tim Sheldon (D)
|
34,130 | 61.81% | ||
| Nancy Williams (R) | 21,084 | 38.19% | ||
| Washington State Senate, District 35 Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Tim Sheldon (D)
|
20,437 | 61.17% | ||
| Nancy (grandma) Williams (R)
|
12,974 | 38.83% | ||
2006
In November 2006, Sheldon was re-elected for the 35th District of the Washington State Senate receiving 32,963 votes.
Sheldon raised $215,300 for his campaign.[8]
| Washington State Senate, District 35 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Tim Sheldon (D)
|
32,963 | |||
| Mark Shattuck (R) | 12,622 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sheldon is married to Linda; they have one daughter.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Washington scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 10.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on legislation supported by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to home building industry issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on how they voted on firearm policies.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against WSLC's position.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 25.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 12.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Washington State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 28.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 8 through March 8.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 9 through April 23. There were also special sessions. The first special session was April 24 through May 23. The second special session was May 23 through June 21. The third special session was June 21 through July 20.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 64th Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 11 through March 10. The legislature held a special session from March 11 to March 29 to pass a supplemental budget.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 64th Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 12 through April 24. The legislature was in special session from April 29 to May 28, May 29 to June 27 and June 28 to July 10.[9]
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 13 to March 14.[10]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 63rd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 14 to April 29.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 9 to March 8.[11]
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 62nd Washington State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 10 through April 24.
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Missed Votes Report
- See also: Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate
In March 2014, Washington Votes, a legislative information website, released its annual Missed Votes Report, which provides detailed missed roll call votes on bills for every state legislator during the 2014 legislative session.[12] The 2014 regular session included a total of 515 votes in the State House and 396 in the State Senate, as well as 1,372 bills introduced total in the legislature and 237 bills passed. Out of all roll call votes, 90 individual legislators did not miss any votes. Three individual legislators missed more than 50 votes.[12] Sheldon missed 0 votes in a total of 1017 roll calls.
Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation releases its Big Spender List annually. The Institute ranks all Washington legislators based on their total proposed tax and fee increases. To find each legislator’s total, the Institute adds up the 10-year tax increases or decreases, as estimated by Washington’s Office of Financial Management, of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by that legislator.[13]
2012
Sheldon proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $3.8 million, the 39th highest amount of proposed new taxes and fees of the 46 Washington state senators on the Freedom Foundation’s 2012 Big Spender List.
- See also: Washington Freedom Foundation Legislative Scorecard (2012)
The Freedom Foundation also issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[14] A 
sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a 
sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Sheldon voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Tim Sheldon | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | Y | N | Y | ||||||||
See also
- Washington State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Washington State Senate elections, 2018
- Washington State Senate
- Washington State Senate Committees
- Washington Joint Committees
- Washington State Senate District 35
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Legislative District Map," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 14, 2014
- ↑ Crosscut, "A whiff of mutiny among Democrats in Olympia," February 15, 2010
- ↑ Vote Tim Sheldon, "The Issues," accessed July 11, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2014 Candidates Who Have Filed," accessed May 20, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "August 5, 2014, Official Primary Results," accessed August 5, 2014
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "Official general election results, 2014," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 campaign contributions," accessed April 12, 2014
- ↑ Multi State, "2015 State Legislative Session Dates," accessed July 13, 2015
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ StateScape, "Session schedules," accessed July 23, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Washington Policy Center, "2014 Missed Votes Report for Legislators Released," March 18, 2014
- ↑ Freedom Foundation, "2012 Big Spender List," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ My Freedom Foundation, "Home," accessed June 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Washington State Senate District 35 1997-2023 |
Succeeded by Drew MacEwen (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Washington House of Representatives 1991-1997 |
Succeeded by - |
