Kevin Shutty announced he will not seek a third term on the Mason County Commission in 2024. The Union resident has held the seat since 2016 and was elected to a second term in 2020, running unopposed in that election.
“It has been a privilege to serve the people of District 2 and Mason County for the last eight years,” said Shutty. “During my time in office, I am proud of the progress Mason County has made on issues important to our community like increased funding for public safety, expanded services for people struggling with mental health and substance use issues, investments in infrastructure, and returning fiscal responsibility to the County’s budget.”
Shutty has served on a number of regional and state boards including the Thurston-Mason Behavioral Health Administrative Organization, which was pivotal in bringing the Mason County Law Enforcement Co-Responder program to the community, a model developed locally and now receiving national recognition for its success helping people in crisis.
“We have an obligation to support the most vulnerable in our community and provide the tools necessary to help our deputies keep our community safe. Our partnership with Olympic Health and Recovery Services achieves that goal and I am proud to have played a role in bringing this service to Mason County. Growing up, my dad struggled with mental illness that he medicated with alcohol and opioids. My lived experience has helped me understand this need in our community and to work with clinical professionals and peers in recovery to support alternatives to jail and help give people a chance at a better life.”
In addition to his work on mental health issues, Shutty was a strong advocate for investing in infrastructure to help bring jobs, housing, and opportunity to Mason County. Working with the Legislature, Shutty championed expanding sewer service in Belfair and an environmental impact study to support sensible growth in the region. Ultimately, the Belfair sewer system that had been running in the red for years and was the target of several state audit findings is now running in the black, growing, and is no longer subject to those audit findings
“Thanks to forward thinking by our staff, legislators, and Commissioner Sharon Trask, Mason County is well-positioned to support growing housing pressures from around Puget Sound and attract employers to our community. Making smart investments in infrastructure, building regional partnerships, and considering the environmental impacts of growth allows us to build the best possible future for our residents,” Shutty said.
Shutty has also served on the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Alliance for a Healthy South Sound, Macecom 911 Board of Directors, Mason County Criminal Justice Working Team, Mason County Clean Water District, Mason County Economic Development Council, the Puget Sound Partnership’s Ecosystem Coordination Board, and was appointed to the State Building Code Council by Gov. Jay Inslee, serving from 2017-2021. He is also a member of the Shelton YMCA Board where he has helped raise more than $150,000 in the last two years to support children and families in need of financial aid access programs to improve their health and well-being.
A teacher by trade, Shutty teaches American government courses at Olympic College’s Shelton and Poulsbo campuses. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education, and a Master’s in community and economic development, both from Penn State University. Shutty also holds a certificate in public sector leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and was selected by his peers in the Washington State Association of Counties to attend the County Leadership Institute at the National Association of Counties in Washington, D.C. one of 13 participants selected from across the nation in 2022.
“I have worked every day since being elected to improve our community to help it lead our region and compete for opportunities statewide. Holding elected office is not a lifetime appointment and I look forward to returning to highest office in our land – that of constituent. It was an honor to work with our dedicated staff at the County and so many smart, committed colleagues across Washington. I remain incredibly grateful to my wife, Catherine, for her unwavering support during my time in office and look forward to the next chapter in our life in Mason County,” said Shutty.