SharePoint workflow Current Item is being ignored after a Pause -

i have questions hope has answer to.

• it 2010 workflow running on sharepoint 2013 hosted environment.
• the workflow created "admin account"
• i have edited workflow using account part of admin group on sharepoint. using sharepoint designer edit workflow.
• the workflow doesn't throw errors , code should "work" in theory/practice because rather simple.

here's problem:

• the workflow pauses until reaches date -when comes out of pause, seems ignore case statement.
• all debugging logs indicate should go down if statement doesn't
• one other if statement works fine coming out of pause.

else if current item:category equals value pto

category drop down field debug log says category = pto every item in field statement obtained pick list! have moved statement top of if list , still ignored.

i don't understand why not dropping if statement while case works fine.

could permission issue?