"Barry Sehlin may be back in politics.After pulling out of what promised to be a costly race for Congressman Jack Metcalf's U.S. House seat early this year, former state Rep. Barry Sehlin (R-Oak Harbor) may head out on the campaign trail this summer, albeit with a somewhat smaller target in his sights. Last Friday, Sehlin said he his considering a run for the seat held by Rep. Dave Anderson (D-Clinton) in the state House.Sehlin said he has been the target in recent weeks of a friendly effort to push him into the 10th District race. Whether or not he runs against Anderson may depend on his own campaign finances. Sehlin pulled out of the congressional primary race with Arlington's John Koster after deciding it would take too much money and debt to win the seat.Speaking from Oak Harbor on Friday, Sehlin said though it is premature to say that he will run against Anderson, he certainly has not closed the door on the idea.I am seriously thinking about it, he said.Dave Anderson confirmed this week that he will run for a third term in the state legislature. Recently back from a session during which Democrats and Republicans controlled an equal number of seats in the state House, Anderson said the legislators know more about working together than they did in 1996.We've really made a difference down there, he said. The mean-spirited edge that was so prevalent when I first arrived in '96 has thankfully faded away.On Tuesday, Anderson said a race with Sehlin would be a good one and would raise a useful public debate. But Anderson said part of him also wishes for an easier race than the one Sehlin would offer him.There's part of me that would not want to work as hard as I would have to against him, he said.Sehlin said he will spend the next few days speaking to colleagues, friends, and family about running for state House. If elected, he would technically return to the House as a freshman legislator. He served three terms in office, retiring from the House in 1999. Langley's Kelly Barlean won the seat last November in a contest against Democrat Alex McDougall. Anderson holds the 10th District's other House position, which he won by beating Oak Harbor Republican Barney Beeksma four years ago. "

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