Personal: A King County native and resident of Maple Valley for 36 years, Cheryl is mom to four busy young adults. Her eldest works for a Technology company in Kirkland.  Her second son just started law school at the UW and her third son is studying broadcast communications at WSU. Her youngest, a daughter, is a high school junior. Cheryl enjoys skiing, boating and theatre. She is an outdoor enthusiast and, along with her two eldest sons, is a private pilot.

Education: B.S. in Nursing, University of Washington, Specializing in Pediatrics.

Professional Experience: Registered nurse.  Past nursing experience includes cardiac surgical care, operating room, family practice, medical-surgical, and school nursing.

State Legislative Experience:

State Senator, 5th District

• Caucus Vice Chair, '09-'10

• Deputy Republican Leader, '07-'08

• Ranking Republican, Health and Long-Term Care Committee, '07-'08

• Member: Transportation Committee, '07-'08

• Member: Rules Committee, '07-'08

• Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, '07-'08

• Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board, '08

• Board member, Economic Development Finance Authority Task Force '07-'08

• Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force, '07-'08

• Council of State Governments - West, Forum on the Urban/Rural Divide '05

• Council of State Governments - West, Transportation and Trade Committee '05

• Deputy Floor Leader '05-'06

• Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care Costs and Access '06

• Governor’s Advisory Board on Higher Education

• Governor's Council on HIV/AIDS

• Ranking Republican, International Trade and Economic Development Committee '05-'06

• Ways and Means Committee '05-'06

• Early Childhood, K12, and Higher Education Committee '05-'06

• Long Term Care Task Force, Chair

• Public Health Financing Study

• Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on International Trade Policy

• I-405 Executive Committee, '01 – present

• Joint Committee on Economic Development and International Relations – Bicameral committee established by law that provides a forum for reviewing key legislative issues on international trade and trade relations, tourism and economic development.

• Senate Delegate, Reinvesting for Youth, '07-'08

State Representative, 5th District

• Ranking Republican, Health Care Committee
• Appropriations Committee, '00 – '04
• Joint Committee on Pension Policy, Executive Board Member, '02 - '04
• Legislative Liaison to Gambling Commission, '02 – '04
• Legislative Transportation Committee, Commerce Corridor Study 02
• Republican Caucus Vice Chair, '01-'02
• Technology, Telecom, and Energy Committee, '01 - '02
• Trade and Economic Development Committee, '01
• Health Care Committee, Vice Chair, '99-00
• Transportation Committee, '99-'00
• Children and Family Services Committee, '99-'02
• Assistant Republican Whip, '99-'00
• Joint Executive Task Force on Long Term Care, '99
• Translake Study, '99
• Legislative Liaison to Puget Sound Regional Council, Alternate, '99

National Legislative Experience:

• Economic Development, Trade and Cultural Affairs Committee '05

• Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force, American Legislative Exchange Council '05

• Health Care Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, '99

• Program for Emerging Political Leaders and Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, '99

International Legislative Experience: Senate Delegate and Executive Board Member, Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER),  '01 – present, Chair of Health Care Working Group. PNWER is a coalition of Western states and Canadian provinces that cross party lines and national borders to address key issues, including homeland security, borders, energy, tourism, emergency management, transportation and trade. PNWER is also a public-private partnership that promotes and shares the results of industry clusters in the life sciences, biotech and nanotech arenas. Members include Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.

Civic Activities:

• Sammamish Symphony, Board Member, 2004-present

• Washington Trails Association, Advisory Board Member (Issaquah), 2000-present

• Rotary, Member, 1998-present

• PEO (supports higher education for women), Member, 1979-present, Yearbook Editor, 1985-1987

• PTSA, Book Fair, 1990-2002, and Classroom Volunteer

• Eastside Republican Club, Board Member (1998), 1996-present

• Maple Valley Chamber of Commerce, Member, 1998-present

• Upper Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, Governmental Affairs Committee, 1998-present

• Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, Governmental Affairs Committee, 1998-present

• Boy Scouts of America, Den Leader and Camp Leader 1993-1998

• Odyssey of the Mind, Regional Judge, 1995-1996

• Maple Valley Pony Baseball, Parent Coordinator, 1995-1997

• Maple Valley Youth Soccer, Field Sponsor, 1990-1997

• New Life Preschool, Founding Board Member, 1989-1991 and Registrar

• Healing the Children, Foster Mother, 1988

• Church, Deacon and Sunday School Teacher, 1986-present

• Adult Education Teacher, 1986-1998

• Alumni House Association, President, 1985-1986

• Red Cross, Instructor, 1980-1981

• Air Force ROTC, Auxiliary Commander, 1976-1978

Scholarships and Awards:

• 2006 - Award for Outstanding Effort to Improve Washington Health Care, Providence Health System

• 2005 - Cornerstone Award, Association of Washington Business (also '95, '96, '97, '98, '02, '03, '04)

• 2005 - Washington Farm Bureau, 100 percent voting record

• 2005 - Health Care Advocacy Award, Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians

• 2004 - Guardian of Small Business Award (also 2000, '02)

• 2004 - Paul Harris Fellow, International Rotary

• 2002 - Sunshine Award, Washington Citizen Action

• 2002 - Republican Woman of the Year

• 2001 - Speaker, National Energy Conference

• 2001 - National Council of State Legislatures, Health Care Advisory Board

• 1999 - Program for Emerging Political Leaders, Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia

• 1999 - Community Service Award, Issaquah Community Network

• 1983 & 1984 Critical Care & Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification

• 1980 - Educational Staff Associate Certification

• 1979 - Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing Honor Society)

• 1978 - 99th Percentile National League for Nursing Achievement Test

• 1975 - Valedictorian, Tahoma High School, "Best Scholar," "Most Likely to Succeed"