A strong and vibrant economy is critical to the success of Kitsap County. As your State Representative, Sherry helped pass a budget that ensures we are meeting our priorities. Sherry was key in bringing $54 million from tax dollars back to Kitsap County. While on the Poulsbo City Council, Sherry helped establish a downtown revitalization fund.

Kitsap County’s future depends on secure jobs that pay a living wage.  With Sherry's support there will be 400 new jobs created for public works projects--something our area desperately needs to expand its job base. Sherry has supported families through her work with the amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council and the Center for a Changing Workforces, as well as the Masters, Mates and Pilots and the SEIU State Council.  As a legislator she has continued to work for working families.

Our Children need quality schools and smaller classrooms. Sherry supports continued investment in quality education at all levels and providing the tools so that each student has the chance to succeed. Sherry seeks creative answers to our school funding crisis – including support for a stable funding source for basic and higher education. She was key in securing $16 million for Kitsap County schools. Sherry is working to help restore the I-732 money for teacher salaries. Sherry is opposed to charter schools and helped defeat charter school legislation while working for the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women.

It is time to fix our roads, ease congestion and improve our ferry service. In the legislature, Sherry has supported sustainable passenger-only ferry service that will serve Kingston and Bremerton. Sherry fought for ferry riders by restoring the frequent ferry user discount language.  Families can now travel together because Sherry helped to get rid of the  "30 minute lock-out"

Our health care system is in a crisis. Sherry was very proud of her sponsored HB 1168, prescription drug legislation that permitted citizens with cost prohibitive prescriptions to buy their medicines in Canada. This also allows Canadian pharmacies to become certified by our state board of pharmacy. Sherry also supports solutions for access to health care in Washington State. Sherry's Washington Health Security Trust (HB 1186) was a step in the right direction to cover all of our citizens in WA State. Although the bill did not pass, she will reintroduce it again in 2009. Sherry was the lead representative for Washington Citizen Action, helping to pass Washington’s “Patients’ Bill of Rights.” And one of Sherry's proudest achievements was obtaining funding for public health nurse visits for all newborns in Kitsap – regardless of socio-economic status.  And we can't forget Keller House, which will provide transitional housing for the most mentally ill - our delegation fought and won $1 million dollars to build this facility.

We need environmental laws that protect workers, small businesses and keep our air and water clean. We need environmental laws that protect workers, small businesses and keep our air and water clean. Sherry was appointed to the Puget Sound Partnership, a group that proposed a plan of action as part of the 15-year, $42 million Puget Sound Initiative. She was a former member of the Select Committee on Hood Canal whose efforts were to study and preserve the Canal. Sherry was a founding member of the Urban Forestry Council. While on the Poulsbo City Council, Sherry worked to clean up Liberty Bay and make Poulsbo a "Tree City."  Sherry also was successful in getting $100,000.00 for the Poulsbo Marine Science Center and the curriculum for its floating class room.

Sherry will continue to work on in the next legislative session (2009):

• Sherry will be working to reduce ferry fares.
• Sherry will be looking at a greater share of the gas tax revenue to go to operating expenses for the ferries.
• Sherry will again work on pay day lending by setting a cap on interest rates.