About Sharlett

Sharlett Mena was born and raised in Washington, and is the proud daughter of immigrants who came to the United States as farm workers.

 

A product of public schools in the Tri-Cities, Sharlett saw firsthand the value of programs that helped first-generation students like her pursue higher education  as well as the disparities in access that can shape a young person’s education. She became the first member of her family to graduate college, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Washington State University.

 

Sharlett embarked on a career in public service in Washington, D.C., working in various Congressional offices. As a communications professional, Sharlett helped people in some of the most underinsured communities in the nation gain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. She returned to Washington State in 2018 continuing her work in public service in the Washington State Senate, the Office of Governor, and the Washington State Department of Ecology where she continues working today. At Ecology, Sharlett leads special initiatives to protect clean air and water, implement climate action, and advance environmental justice. In this capacity, she helped to improve state government engagement with Tribal and underserved communities across the state, address the scourge of PFAS in drinking water, and achieve a record-high level of federal funding for the Hanford Cleanup.

 

COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

 

Outside of work, Sharlett has been an active community organizer, leading actions for immigration reform and to advance voting rights. In August of 2021, she co-created Voter Turnup, a movement led by people of color to engage and empower each other through voter registration, cultural expression, and civic engagement.

 

Sharlett is an elected Precinct Committee Officer for the 29th Legislative District Democrats. She previously served as a board member for:  South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, Fuse Washington, Progreso, and Planned Parenthood Votes Washington Political Action Committee. Sharlett was also appointed as a representative of the immigrant community on the Governor’s Pandemic After Action Review Task Force.

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LEADER FOR THE 29TH DISTRICT

 

Sharlett won her seat in the Washington State House of Representatives by nearly twenty points in 2022, after the retirement of Steve Kirby.  In her first legislative session, six of Sharlett’s twelve introduced bills passed the Legislature and were signed into law, earning her praise as a “power player who knows how to get things done”.