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Sharon Shewmake

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Sharon Shewmake
Member of the Washington Senate
from the 42nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 9, 2022
Preceded bySimon Sefzik
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 42nd district
In office
January 14, 2019 – December 9, 2022
Preceded byVincent Buys
Succeeded byJoe Timmons
Personal details
Born
Sharon Anne Shewmake

(1980-05-19) May 19, 1980 (age 45)
Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materDuke University (BA)
University of California, Davis (PhD)
ProfessionProfessor of Economics
Signature

Sharon Anne Shewmake (born May 19, 1980)[1] is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and a professor of Economics and Energy Policy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.[2] Shewmake represents the 42nd district in the Washington State Senate after serving two terms in the State House.

Career

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Shewmake holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis, and Bachelor's degrees in both Economics and in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University.[3]

Her academic work focuses on the economics of housing and transportation, the impacts of environmental policies, and microeconomics.[4] Her publications have examined, among other subjects, the impacts of policies meant to reduce air pollution and congestion as well as how consumers respond to environmental labels, including labels for agricultural products.[5]

Political career

[edit]

In the November 2018 general election, Shewmake defeated four-term incumbent Vincent Buys for State Representative (Pos. 2) by 981 votes.[6] She took office in January 2019. In 2020, she won reelection, beating Republican Jennifer Sefzik by 3,134 votes.[7]

Shewmake served on three committees in the State House. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee and sits on the Energy and Environment Committee and the Transportation Committee.[8]

Her political work is focused on bringing down the cost of childcare [9] and removing barriers to access,[10] improving the economics of energy [11] and energy transparency,[12] as well as service to the agriculture industry.[13]

On November 19, 2021, Shewmake announced she was running to represent the 42nd district in the Washington Senate.[14] Shewmake advanced to the general election with 47% of the vote in the blanket primary, opposing incumbent Republican Simon Sefzik, her former opponent Jennifer Sefzik’s son[15] who was appointed to the position in January 2022 following the death of State Senator Doug Erickson.[16] In the general election, Shewmake defeated Sefzik by over 800 votes.[17][18][19] Shewmake was sworn in on December 9, 2022.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Climage Impact Advisory Committee". January 30, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Dr. Sharon Shewmake | College of Business & Economics". cbe.wwu.edu. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "2018 Primary Voters' Guide". Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "shewmas | College of Business & Economics". Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "SelectedWorks - Sharon Shewmake". works.bepress.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "Recounts set to start in 42nd Legislative District races". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "Sharon Shewmake". Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  8. ^ "House Democratic Caucus announces committees and D member assignments – Washington State House Democrats". Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "Washington State Legislature". app.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Washington State Legislature". app.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Washington State Legislature". app.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "Washington State Legislature". app.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Washington State Legislature". app.leg.wa.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  14. ^ Shewmake, Sharon (November 19, 2021). "REP. SHARON SHEWMAKE ANNOUNCES HER CAMPAIGN FOR WASHINGTON STATE SENATE IN THE 42ND DISTRICT" (PDF). Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  15. ^ "Whatcom County appoints 22-year-old to Ericksen's seat, sets up race against Shewmake, who beat his mother in 2020". Washington State Wire. January 11, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Simon Sefzik". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Sharon Shewmake wins State Senate race". 790 KGMI. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  18. ^ "Washington State Senate District 42". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Helm, Bill Helm (November 22, 2022). "With 150 ballots left to count, Sharon Shewmake ahead of Simon Sefzik by 800-plus votes". Lynden Tribune. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  20. ^ "Shewmake sworn in as new senator". WA Senate Democrats. December 9, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2023.


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