Cheryl Pflug Explained

Cheryl Pflug
State Senate:Washington
State:Washington
District:5th
Term Start:January 5, 2004
Term End:June 30, 2012
Preceded:Dino Rossi
Succeeded:Dino Rossi
State House1:Washington
District1:5th
Term Start1:January 11, 1999
Term End1:January 5, 2004
Preceded1:Philip E. Dyer
Succeeded1:Jay Rodne
Party:Republican
Birth Name:Cheryl Ann Pflug
Birth Date:28 February 1957
Spouse:Brian
Children:4
Alma Mater:University of Washington (BS), Seattle University (JD)

Cheryl Ann Pflug (born February 28, 1957) is an American lawyer, nurse, and politician who is a member of the Republican Party. She was a member of the Washington State Senate from 2004 to 2012.[1] [2] [3]

Early life and education

Pflug earned her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Washington and worked as a critical care and operating room nurse[4] while raising 4 children on a family farm adjacent to the Cedar River Watershed. She received a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2012 and was admitted to the Bar in 2014.[5]

State legislature

Pflug served the 5th District in the State Legislature for nearly 14 years before being appointed to the Growth Management Hearings Board by Governor Gregoire in May 2012.[6] The 5th District straddles the Urban Growth Line, causing local governments to continually struggle to balance the need for infrastructure and services with a commitment to preserving community character, open space, fish habitat and pristine recreational areas.[6] Over the course of her legislative career, Pflug used her health care experience to improve health outcomes while reducing unnecessary costs,[4] authoring several first-in-the-nation innovations that were adopted into law[4] [7] and pushing through legislation to give the office of the Attorney General strong tools to prosecute multimillion-dollar corporate Medicaid fraud schemes.[8] [9] [10] Pflug also championed infrastructure,[6] education, http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/05/29/state-sen-cheryl-pflug-departs-suddenly-to-accept-board-post/ hatchery and parks improvements[11] to support the needs of the rapidly growing communities she represented.[12] [13]

As a legislator, Pflug earned a reputation as "an independent workhorse"[4] willing to work across party lines.[14] She crafted legislation to create treatment alternatives for nonviolent mentally-ill misdemeanants[10] and cast the decisive vote to create a simple-majority requirement for school levies.[4] In 2008, Pflug was honored with the commission of Washington General for commitment to her community and service to the state of Washington,[15] and the "Champion of Freedom Award" in 2012.[16]

Often questioned for her growing cynicism,[17] Pflug also paid a price for defying her party leaders[18] but rarely backed down.[19] [20]

Appointment to the Growth Management Planning Board

In May 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire nominated Pflug to a seat on the Growth Management Planning Board.

Following the appointment, Republican Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur suggested the appointment was a "deal" to give the Democrats her Senate seat, an allegation called "hypocritical" by observers.[21]

Pflug resigned her Senate seat on June 30, 2012, the day before her Growth Board appointment commenced on July 1, 2012.[6] On July 11, 2012, Dino Rossi was appointed to fill the term of Pflug.[22] In November 2012, Mark Mullet was elected to represent the 5th legislative district in the senate.

Post-legislative career

In July 2012, Pflug was featured in the first Washington television ad supporting same-sex marriage.[23] The ad aired during the opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympic Games.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 5th Legislative District . apps.leg.wa.gov . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060926155606/http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/results.aspx?District=05 . 26 September 2006 . dead.
  2. Web site: The Voter's Self Defense System. Vote Smart. 21 November 2017.
  3. Email submission to Ballotpedia, May 16, 2012
  4. Web site: Cheryl Pflug in the 5th Legislative District. 12 August 2008. Seattletimes.com. 21 November 2017.
  5. Web site: Lawyer Profile . www.mywsba.org . 14 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713141250/https://www.mywsba.org/LawyerDirectory/LawyerProfile.aspx?Usr_ID=47592 . 13 July 2015 . dead.
  6. Web site: State Sen. Cheryl Pflug departs suddenly to accept board post : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds and More in Issaquah, WA . 2015-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150205064447/http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/05/29/state-sen-cheryl-pflug-departs-suddenly-to-accept-board-post/ . 2015-02-05 . dead.
  7. Web site: Washington Becomes First State to Endorse Shared Medical Decision Making. - Free Online Library. Thefreelibrary.com. 21 November 2017.
  8. Web site: Legislature should keep simple tool to fight Medicaid fraud. 30 March 2015. Seattletimes.com. 21 November 2017.
  9. Web site: Medicaid fraud :: The Capitol Record | News, background and notes on Washington state government . 2015-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713134126/http://www.capitolrecord.org/tag/medicaid-fraud/ . 2015-07-13 . dead.
  10. Web site: Local senator sponsors bill to cut down on Medicaid fraud : Snoqualmie, WA – SnoValley Star – News, Sports, Classifieds . 2015-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713130412/http://snovalleystar.com/2012/04/04/local-senator-sponsors-bill-to-cut-down-on-medicaid-fraud . 2015-07-13 . dead.
  11. Web site: Governor vetoes state park facility, OKs hatchery dam : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds and More in Issaquah, WA . 2015-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713143148/http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/04/25/governor-vetoes-state-park-facility-oks-hatchery-dam/#more-70118#more-70118 . 2015-07-13 . dead.
  12. Web site: GMHB Profiles. Gmhb.wa.gov. 21 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045124/http://www.gmhb.wa.gov/Profiles.aspx?nm=Cheryl+Pflug. 1 December 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: The Issaquah Press October 27 Page 4. Gmhb.wa.gov. 21 November 2017.
  14. Web site: Eastside legislative races. 16 October 2008. Seattletimes.com. 21 November 2017.
  15. Web site: Pflug named a Washington General. Flickr.com. 11 March 2008 . 21 November 2017.
  16. Web site: Glenn Anderson : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds and More in Issaquah, WA . 2015-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150713131950/http://www.issaquahpress.com/tag/rep-glenn-anderson/page/2/ . 2015-07-13 . dead.
  17. Web site: Second Republican state senator chooses to support marriage equality. 10 January 2012. Seattletimes.com. 21 November 2017.
  18. Web site: 'Pflug' becomes Republican profanity after endorsing Democrat, criticizing Dino Rossi - Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter. 10 July 2012. Issaquahreporter.com. 21 November 2017.
  19. Web site: Gay marriage creates choices, costs for Minn. GOP. 14 February 2013. Denverpost.com. 21 November 2017.
  20. Web site: Tuesday Jolt: Pflug Burns Rossi, Supremes Burn Cheap Smokes. Seattlemet.com. 21 November 2017.
  21. Web site: Sunday Spin: GOP intrigue in the 5th Lege District. Spokesman.com. 21 November 2017.
  22. Web site: Dino Rossi appointed to be state senator again - Political Buzz. Blog.thenewstribune.com. 21 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20120712194041/http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2012/07/09/dino-rossi-appointed-to-be-state-senator-again/. 12 July 2012. dead.
  23. Web site: First campaign ad for same-sex marriage. 29 July 2012. Mynorthwest.com. 21 November 2017.

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