Commission Candidate Drops Out of Race After Controversy

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A candidate running for the Port of Tacoma commission has dropped out of the race.

The state Public Disclosure Commission announced this week that Jim Jensen's campaign asked to withdraw the candidate Monday.

The commission says the Republican candidate has time to change his mind.

The News Tribune reports the announcement comes after Jensen was criticized for changing his position on a proposed methanol plant and tweets about women and African-Americans posted by him over a year ago that were considered offensive. Jensen told the New Tribune afterward that he would be withdrawing.

The report says Jensen has resigned from his position at a commercial real estate company.

According the latest records, Jensen's campaign had raised almost $148,000, a majority of which came from his own pocket.