Cheryl Pflug

Cheryl Pflug is an American politician of the Republican Party. She was a member of the Washington State Senate from 2004 to 2012.^[1][2][3]

A Washington native, Cheryl Pflug’s family history goes back more than a century in the Pacific Northwest.^[4] In 1901, her great-grandfather, Chester Morse, created the Cedar River Watershed to supply drinking water to the Seattle metropolitan area.^[4] Growing up in a family that loved outdoor recreation, Pflug learned to ski with the Mountaineers at age 5, and backpacked throughout the Cascade, Rainier and Olympic National Parks.^[4] She earned her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Washington and worked as a critical care and operating room nurse^[5] while raising 4 children on a family farm adjacent to the Cedar River Watershed.^[4] Cheryl Pflug is also a private pilot and shares this activity with her parents and two sons.^[4][4]

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, Cheryl used her health care experience to improve health outcomes while reducing unnecessary costs,^[5] authoring several first-in-the-nation innovations that were adopted into law^[5][7] and pushing through legislation to give the office of the Attorney General strong tools to prosecute multi-million dollar corporate Medicaid fraud schemes.^[8][9][10] Cheryl 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.^[4][12]

As a legislator, Pflug earned a reputation as "an independent workhorse"^[5] willing to work across party lines.^[13] 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.^[5] In 2008, Pflug was honored with the commission of Washington General for commitment to her community and service to the state of Washington,^[14] and the "Champion of Freedom Award" in 2012.^[15] After taking night classes for 3 years, she received a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2012^[4] and was admitted to the Bar in 2014.^[16]

Democratic Governor Gregoire appointed Pflug to the Growth Management Hearings Board on May 18, 2012.^[6] "Cheryl is well respected by both sides of the aisle as an effective problem solver and has served her constituents well," Gregoire said in a statement. "Her legislative experience and commitment to serve will be a great asset to the work of the board and I welcome her to this new role."^[6] The Growth Board appointment came 3 days after filing closed for the 2012 Senate race, forcing Pflug to withdraw her re-election bid and leaving one Democrat, Mark Mullet, and one Republican, Brad Toft, as filed candidates for her seat.^[6]

Often praised for her courage and conviction,^[17] Pflug also paid a price for defying her party leaders^[18] but rarely backed down.^[19][20] Republican Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur accused Pflug of voting for gay marriage to secure the appointment,^[21][22] an allegation that proved false.^[23] Citing her concern that 40 y.o. Republican Toft had been a defendant in 22 civil and criminal suits,^[24] Pflug further enraged Republicans by endorsing a Democrat candidate,^[24] which prompted Wilbur to suggest the appointment was a "deal" to give the Democrats her Senate seat, an allegation called "hypocritical" by observers.^[21] With a Senate seat at stake, the GOP went on to publish articles in right-leaning media outlets accusing Pflug of a "sleazy backroom deal"^[25] and to produce campaign mailings and television adds accusing Pflug of a $1 Million "bribery scandal."^[26] Despite multiple massive public document requests in search of "evidence,"^[27] the GOP never found evidence to support its charges of civil, criminal, or ethical violations by Pflug.^[27][28]

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.^[29] In November 2012, Mark Mullet was elected to represent the 5th legislative district in the senate.^[28]

In July 2012, Pflug was featured in the first Washington television ad supporting same-sex marriage.^[30] The ad aired during the opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympic Games.^[30]

References