It’s been an honor to work in the state senate with so many others on behalf of Whatcom County. Nobody does this work alone and we have much to be proud of in 2023.
In the budget process, we addressed the needs of our district by funding behavioral health programs, nature and wildlife restoration, agricultural investment, road safety improvements, community centers and finalized state support for the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express.
We need affordable housing. That means we need to build more, and government needs to remove red tape. I was proud to prime sponsor two housing bills, one on condominium liability reform and another making it easier to build more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs or grannie flats) and supported many more bills. 2023 was truly the “Year of Housing.”
We also passed important legislation on substance use and addiction, to support nurses and prevent gun violence. We protected your reproductive rights and passed legislation to protect orcas, support small businesses and fund safer transportation infrastructure.
My job is more than passing bills; it’s also building community. This summer, Lummi Island and Point Roberts leaders separately asked for help starting a local compost facility.
I realized these two remote, unincorporated communities shared more in common than compost so I arranged a trip so they could learn from each other.
This fall, I met with federal officials at the White House to discuss Whatcom County’s building better communities. I spent my time talking with Caitlin Durkovich, deputy Homeland Security advisor for resilience and response, to advocate for a quick FEMA flood response because families shouldn’t have to wait over a year for help after a disaster.
I’m ready to continue supporting our communities, and I hope you will reach out to make Whatcom County the best it can be.
(Sharon Shewmake is state senator for the 42nd Leslative District.)
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