Cheryl Pflug

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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]

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]

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]

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.

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]