Kitsap and Thurston Counties are enjoying an economic rebound from the recession. They made the hard decisions to cut positions and pay during that time, but continued to prepare for the recession’s end.

Kitsap County has a new YMCA, the fairgrounds are in the black and improvements are being made.

Joblessness is down, homes are selling, crime is down, more parks have been opened and others refreshed, new roads have been added and others improved.

Compare that with the depressed state of affairs in Mason County, whose fairgrounds have been shuttered after years of neglect and whose roads remain some of the most dangerous in the state. Mason has the largest crime rate per capita, highest number of homeless families and lowest average income of the three counties. Economically it is in the bottom tier of all 39 counties in the state and its foreclosure rate continues to rise.

All this has happened during the 24 years Tim Sheldon has been amassing political power in the legislature and as county commissioner.

Sheldon blames Seattle, the state’s economic engine and job creation center, for Mason County’s situation,

However, it is his own ineptitude and refusal to bring State help to his district and county that has created Mason’s dire circumstances.

Sheldon does not work with Mason’s other elected officials, denies nearly every request of need from the sheriff and openly belittles the elected women in Mason’s government while he denies their requests of need for their departments.

It takes courage and wisdom to run against someone like Tim Sheldon, and the belief that change must occur to better one’s own community.

How long will Mason County continue to want to be bullied? Sheldon is about power and control. He has treated Mason County as his own personal kingdom.

Retirement to his 1,100 acres of inherited lands and family compound is long overdue. He has fed off taxpayer money for a very long time.

With Irene Bowling as our state senator, we have someone who will bring honesty, integrity, transparency and a willingness to actually listen to constituents to the entire 35th District.

Irene has demonstrated the ability to work with others to build a healthier, better community for working families to work, live and grow through better opportunities in job creation and education.

Fran Moyer | Seabeck