can't change timezone in time indicator applet

In the terminal the date command returns the correct date/time for my time zone. The time indicator shows the UTC time. I attempt to change it in the gui but when I enter a city in my time zone and click on the complete name below it just ignores that. When I attempt to continue to enter the name as is in the suggestion it (the suggestion) just disapears. Anyway even entering the full suggestion ends with the timezone not being set. A logoff/logon doesn't fix it.
ALSO the time IS CORRECT on the login screen. I perhaps have a setting off in my user files.