Sharon Wylie
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Sharon Wylie
|image =
|caption =
|state_house = Washington
|district = 49th
| alongside = Monica Stonier
|term_start = {{Start date|2011|04|13}}{{cite news |last=Njus |first=Elliot |date=April 13, 2011 |title=Sharon Wylie, Washington's newest legislator, focuses on experience since Oregon House |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/2011/04/sharon_wylie_washingtons_newest_legislator_focuses_on_experience_since_oregon_house.html |work=The Oregonian |accessdate=January 22, 2014}}
|predecessor = Jim Jacks
|state_house1 = Oregon
|district1 = 22nd
|term_start1 = {{Start date|1993|01|11}}
|term_end1 = {{Start date|1997|01|13}}{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Jeff |date=April 13, 2011 |title=Sharon Wylie moves from Oregon House to Washington House |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2011/04/sharon_wylie_moves_from_oregon.html |work=The Oregonian |accessdate=January 22, 2014}}
|predecessor1 = Ron Sunseri
|successor1 = Ron Sunseri
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|07|12}}
|birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/129758/sharon-wylie|title=Sharon Wylie|publisher=votesmart.org|access-date=July 9, 2012}}
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Ted H. Gathe
|residence = Vancouver, Washington, U.S.
|alma_mater = University of California, Riverside (BA)
|profession = Government relations officer
City administrator
|signature=Sharon Wylie Signature.png
|website = [http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-sharon-wylie/ Official]
}}
Sharon L. Wylie (born July 12, 1949) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. She is a member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 49th district since 2011. Wylie previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997, representing the 22nd district.
Career
Wylie has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside, and moved to Washington to become the city administrator of Tukwila in 1981. She was later employed by the King County government and moved to Gresham, Oregon. Wylie was an aide to two Multnomah County Commissioners and helped organize the Gresham farmers' market. She filed her intent to run for the 22nd district seat in the Oregon House of Representatives in February 1992.{{cite news |date=February 18, 1992 |title=Gresham consultant files intent |page=B2 |work=The Oregonian}}
The incumbent representative from the 22nd district, Ron Sunseri, withdrew from the race in August 1992 and left Wylie running against a last-minute Republican opponent.{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=October 29, 1992 |title=Two newcomers vie for House District 22 seat |page=ME1 |work=The Oregonian}} She won the seat by a large margin, defeating Francis Martinez in the general election.{{cite news |last=Barrett |first=Amy |date=November 5, 1992 |title=Voters elect Republicans Lim, Cooley to Oregon Senate spots |page=C2 |work=The Oregonian}} Wylie won re-election in a "heated" 1994 rematch with Martinez that included attack ads and over $125,000 in funds raised by both campaigns ahead of the general election.{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=David R. |date=November 8, 1994 |title=Heated District 22 race brings in $125,000 in contributions |page=B2 |work=The Oregonian}}{{cite news |date=November 10, 1994 |title=Wylie holds 7-point lead over Martinez |page=C2 |work=The Oregonian}} In December 1995, Wylie announced that she would not run for a third term.{{cite news |date=February 20, 1996 |title=PCC instructor Partington seeks Wylie's House seat |page=B2 |work=The Oregonian}}
Her husband, Ted Gathe, was hired in 1994 as city attorney of Vancouver, Washington, leading to speculation that Wylie would move out of Oregon; she would remain eligible to serve in the Oregon House unless expelled by a vote.{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |last2=Holt |first2=Shirleen |date=April 29, 1994 |title=Wylie says she won't move to Vancouver |page=D2 |work=The Oregonian}} Wylie served the remainder of her House term while living in Gresham and moved to Vancouver with her husband and children in 2002.{{cite news |date=July 24, 2003 |title=A vintage past and present |page=24 |work=The Oregonian}} She was hired by the Clark County government in 2001 to serve as a government relations manager and lobbyist to the state legislature.{{cite news |last=Durbin |first=Kathie |date=April 13, 2011 |title=Wylie appointed to vacant House seat |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/13/jim-jacks-replacement-be-announced-today-noon/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=March 3, 2025}}
On April 13, 2011, Wylie was appointed by the Clark County Commission to a vacant Washington House of Representatives seat from the 49th district. She took office later that day in Olympia to finish the remaining months of the term. Wylie ran for a permanent term and defeated her Republican opponent by a margin of 13 percent in the November 2011 general election.{{cite news |last=Durbin |first=Kathie |date=November 8, 2011 |title=Wylie keeps state Legislature seat |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2011/nov/08/49th-legislative-district-wylie-keeps-state-legisl/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=March 3, 2025}} She is the chair of the Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee and a member of the House Finance Committee. Wylie is also a member of the Washington State Arts Commission and the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority.{{cite news |last=Jefferies |first=Dylan |date=May 1, 2024 |title=Rep. Wylie seeking reelection to state House for 49th Legislative District |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/may/01/rep-wylie-seeking-reelection-to-state-house-for-49th-legislative-district/ |work=The Columbian |accessdate=March 3, 2025}}
Personal life
Wylie is married to Ted Gathe, the former city attorney of Vancouver. They have two daughters.{{cite news |date=May 5, 1996 |title=City attorney to move in 4 years |page=A8 |work=The Columbian}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Washington House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wylie, Sharon}}
Category:Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature
Category:Women state legislators in Washington (state)
Category:Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:Women state legislators in Oregon
Category:University of California, Riverside alumni
Category:Politicians from Vancouver, Washington
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:20th-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:20th-century American women politicians
Category:People from Tukwila, Washington