State Rep. Chris Strow said he is pulling his hat out of the ring in the race to replace Island County Commissioner Mike Shelton.

“After a great deal of consideration, I believe that I can do more to serve the people of Island County and the 10th District as a whole in Olympia, rather than in Coupeville,” Strow said.

Strow was the first to volunteer to step in for Shelton when the longtime commissioner quits his post. Shelton will step down Sept. 1 as commissioner to take a job in Olympia.

Island County Planning Director Phil Bakke, Reece Rose and Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair are still in the running for the position.

The Republican party was scheduled to narrow down the list of four candidates to three on Thursday.

Island County commissioners will pick Shelton’s replacement from the remaining candidates.

Strow also said he doesn’t plan on running for the commissioner’s job in 2008, but said he would run again for the state House of Representatives.