“After strongly hinting last week that he might enter the 10th District legislative race against Rep. Dave Anderson, House veteran Barry Sehlin made it official Wednesday, saying he will challenge the South Whidbey Democrat in November.Sehlin, a former three-term, Republican legislator, made his announcement Tuesday in his home town of Anacortes before members of the West Skagit Republican Women’s Club. The 57-year-old Sehlin received immediate support from Sheilah Crider, another 10th District hopeful and fellow Oak Harbor resident. Crider withdrew her candidacy for Anderson’s seat Wednesday and vowed to join Sehlin’s campaign staff.A 26-year Navy veteran, Sehlin’s last posting was as commander of the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. He first won election to the state House in 1993, and held his seat until he retired in 1998.If he wins the contest in November, Sehlin said he does not anticipate entering the Legislature as a freshman House member, which is what he technically would be. He said he expects to still have a great deal of influence among those he worked with during his previous stint in Olympia.That’s part of why I’m running, he said. Past experience will count a great deal.Before he takes on Anderson in the general election, Sehlin may still have to get past another Republican hopeful, Hugh Fleet. Fleet, a Marysville resident, filed to run against Anderson earlier this spring. He said Wednesday that he has no intention of withdrawing from the race, even though Sehlin has much better name recognition.”