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Sharon Shewmake

Won the General, 2022 Washington State Senate District 42

Washington State house, District 42 - position 2 (2019 - Present)

Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • PhD, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Davis, 2004-2010
  • BA, Environmental Science and Policy/Economics, Duke University, 1998-2002

Professional Experience

  • PhD, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Davis, 2004-2010
  • BA, Environmental Science and Policy/Economics, Duke University, 1998-2002
  • Professor, Western Washington University, 2013-present
  • Instructor, Vanderbilt University, 2010-2013
  • Intern, National Center for Environmental Economics, Environmental Protection Agency, 2006
  • Floodplain Scientist, PBS and J, 2002-2004
  • Group Leader, Federation EIL, Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living, 2002

Political Experience

  • PhD, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Davis, 2004-2010
  • BA, Environmental Science and Policy/Economics, Duke University, 1998-2002
  • Professor, Western Washington University, 2013-present
  • Instructor, Vanderbilt University, 2010-2013
  • Intern, National Center for Environmental Economics, Environmental Protection Agency, 2006
  • Floodplain Scientist, PBS and J, 2002-2004
  • Group Leader, Federation EIL, Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living, 2002
  • Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, District 42 Position 2, 2019-present
  • Candidate, Washington State House of Representatives, District 42 Position 2, 2018, 2020

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Environment and Energy Committee

Vice Chair, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee

Member, Transportation

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • PhD, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Davis, 2004-2010
  • BA, Environmental Science and Policy/Economics, Duke University, 1998-2002
  • Professor, Western Washington University, 2013-present
  • Instructor, Vanderbilt University, 2010-2013
  • Intern, National Center for Environmental Economics, Environmental Protection Agency, 2006
  • Floodplain Scientist, PBS and J, 2002-2004
  • Group Leader, Federation EIL, Worldwide Network of the Experiment in International Living, 2002
  • Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, District 42 Position 2, 2019-present
  • Candidate, Washington State House of Representatives, District 42 Position 2, 2018, 2020
  • Member, Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association, present
  • Member, Riveter's Collective, present
  • Member, Walk Bike Bus Bellingham, present
  • Member, Washington State Adult Soccer Association, present
  • Member, Whatcom County Climate Change Impacts Committee, present
  • Faculty Advisor, Women in Economics and Finance Club, Western Washington University, present
  • Member, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists
Policy Positions

Washington State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Women should be able to control their bodies.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Washington's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Implementing a state income tax in Washington isn't supported by the voters of my district and would require a challenge at the Supreme Court. There are better ways we can spend our time, and this is why instead I support raising revenue with a capital gains tax.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Washington?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- The sales tax is an example of a tax that I would support lowering as a means of promoting economic growth, especially if we could still raise revenues and fund our government with capital gains taxes. The minimum wage of Washington State is already on its way up. I support a gradual raise that allows companies to adjust and plan that also supports workers.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Washington?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Washington high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- Well-monitored, not-for-profit charter schools that pay appropriate salaries can be a part of a top notch education system by allowing for the testing of education ideas and providing schools for underrepresented communities. I do not support for-profit charter schools or charter schools that are allowed to do whatever they want. I want to see top-notch schools for all of Washington State students.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Washington's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Washington's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Washington's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Washington state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- 1. We need to address climate change2. We need to fund pre-schools for children from low- to moderate-income families with the idea of expanding it to all families in Washington State3. We need to fully fund the Housing Trust Fund. We are facing an affordable housing crisis.

Events

2020

Oct. 24
Wave Signs for Sharon in Blaine!

Sat 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

Oct. 23
Wave Signs for Sharon in Ferndale!

Fri 6:00 AM – 7:45 AM PDT

Ferndale, WA

Oct. 23
Wave Signs for Sharon!

Fri 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT

Starbucks (1031 W. Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA) Bellingham, WA