Sharon Shewmake Explained

Sharon Shewmake
State Senate:Washington
State:Washington
District:42nd
Termstart:December 9, 2022
Predecessor:Simon Sefzik
State House1:Washington
District1:42nd
Term Start1:January 14, 2019
Term End1:December 9, 2022
Preceded1:Vincent Buys
Succeeded1:Joe Timmons
Party:Democratic
Birth Name:Sharon Anne Shewmake
Birth Date:19 May 1980
Birth Place:Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
Profession:Professor of Economics
Alma Mater:Duke University (BA)
University of California, Davis (PhD)

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

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

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Climage Impact Advisory Committee. 2018-01-30. 2021-12-22.
  2. Web site: Dr. Sharon Shewmake | College of Business & Economics. cbe.wwu.edu. 2018-11-28.
  3. Web site: 2018 Primary Voters' Guide . 2023-01-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230101015040/https://eledataweb.votewa.gov/OVG/OnlineVotersGuide/GetCandidateStatement?electionId=70&candidateId=50307 . 2023-01-01 .
  4. Web site: shewmas | College of Business & Economics. Feb 5, 2021.
  5. Web site: SelectedWorks - Sharon Shewmake. works.bepress.com. Feb 5, 2021.
  6. Web site: Recounts set to start in 42nd Legislative District races. The Bellingham Herald. 2018-11-28.
  7. Web site: Sharon Shewmake. 2018-11-27.
  8. Web site: House Democratic Caucus announces committees and D member assignments – Washington State House Democrats. Feb 5, 2021.
  9. Web site: Washington State Legislature. app.leg.wa.gov. Feb 5, 2021.
  10. Web site: Washington State Legislature. app.leg.wa.gov. Feb 5, 2021.
  11. Web site: Washington State Legislature. app.leg.wa.gov. Feb 5, 2021.
  12. Web site: Washington State Legislature. app.leg.wa.gov. Feb 5, 2021.
  13. Web site: Washington State Legislature. app.leg.wa.gov. Feb 5, 2021.
  14. News: Shewmake . Sharon . 19 November 2021 . REP. SHARON SHEWMAKE ANNOUNCES HER CAMPAIGN FOR WASHINGTON STATE SENATE IN THE 42ND DISTRICT . 31 December 2022.
  15. Web site: 2022-01-11 . Whatcom County appoints 22-year-old to Ericksen's seat, sets up race against Shewmake, who beat his mother in 2020 . 2023-04-01 . Washington State Wire . en-US.
  16. Web site: Simon Sefzik . 2023-01-01 . Ballotpedia . en.
  17. Web site: Sharon Shewmake wins State Senate race . 2022-11-26 . 790 KGMI . en-US.
  18. Web site: Washington State Senate District 42 . 2023-01-01 . Ballotpedia . en.
  19. Web site: Helm . Bill Helm . 22 November 2022 . With 150 ballots left to count, Sharon Shewmake ahead of Simon Sefzik by 800-plus votes . 2022-11-26 . . en.
  20. Web site: 9 December 2022 . Shewmake sworn in as new senator . 2023-08-28 . WA Senate Democrats . en.