Sharlett Mena is an American politician who is a member of the

Washington House of Representatives The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, and along with the Washington State Senate makes up the legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 ...

for the 29th district. Elected in November 2022, she assumed office on January 9, 2023.

Early life and education

The daughter of immigrant farmworkers from Mexico, Mena was raised in Tri-Cities, Washington. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration from

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant unive ...

. Mena was the first member of her family to graduate from college.

Career

In 2012 and 2013, Mena served as the web communications manager for Congressman Albio Sires. From 2013 to 2016, she was the communications director and scheduler for Congressman

Gene Green Raymond Eugene Green (born October 17, 1947) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for , serving for 13 terms. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district included most of eastern Houston, including portion ...

. Mena worked as the digital director for Governor

Jay Inslee Jay Robert Inslee (; born February 9, 1951) is an American politician, lawyer, and economist who has served as the 23rd governor of Washington since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representat ...

's re-election campaign during the

2016 Washington gubernatorial election The 2016 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2016. Under Washington's top-two primary law, all candidates appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the August 2 primary, residents voted for one of several candidat ...

. Mena later worked as a communications specialist for Democratic members of the

Washington State Legislature The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senat ...

and served in Inslee's gubernatorial office as deputy director. In 2019, she became a special assistant to the director of the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Washington House of Representatives

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

, Mena challenged incumbent Democratic representative Steve Kirby. During her 2020 campaign, she was endorsed by Vermont Senator

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007. He was the U.S. representative for the state's at-large congressional district from 1991 to 2007 ...

. In 2022, Kirby retired and endorsed Mena's successful campaign for the Washington House of Representatives.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mena, Sharlett Living people Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives People from Tri-Cities, Washington Washington State University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) American politicians of Mexican descent Washington (state) politicians