Sharon Kay Nelson (born 1951) is an American politician from the state of

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

Background

Nelson is the former Chief of Staff to then

King County Council The Metropolitan King County Council, the legislative body of King County, Washington, consists of nine members elected by district. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budget. Its current name and structure is ...

Chair

Dow Constantine James Dow Constantine (born November 15, 1961) is an American lawyer, urban planner, and politician who is the chief executive officer of Sound Transit. He was appointed in 2025 after resigning as county executive of King County, Washington, a p ...

. She has long been a leader in the fight to protect Maury Island from the expansion of a gravel mine on the island's shore. Senator Nelson, a former Bank Executive, has lived on Maury Island since 1994 with her husband John. Sharon and John have two grown daughters, Amy and Lyssa Ann, and they live with their dog, Abby.

Political career

She was first appointed to the State House of Representatives in 2007 following the elevation of Joe McDermott to the Senate. Nelson was elected to State Senate in 2010, and was sworn in on December 2, 2010. In March 2018, Nelson announced that she would retire at the end of her term. She was the Democratic Leader of the

Washington State Senate The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 members, each representing a district with a population of nearly 160,000. The State Senate meets at the Washington State Capitol, Legis ...

, elected to that position by her colleagues in 2013. Nelson represented the 34th Legislative District, which includes

West Seattle West Seattle is a conglomeration of List of neighborhoods in Seattle, neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington, United States. It comprises two of the List of neighborhoods in Seattle, thirteen districts, Delridge, Seattle, Delridge and Southwest, ...

Vashon Island Vashon () is a census-designated place (CDP) in King County, Washington, United States. It covers an island alternately called Vashon Island or Vashon–Maury Island, the largest island in Puget Sound south of Admiralty Inlet. Before the constru ...

Maury Island Maury Island is a tied island in Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is connected to Vashon Island by an isthmus built by local homeowners in 1913. Before construction of the isthmus, the island was connected to Vashon only during ...

, and most of North Highline and

Burien Burien ( ) is a suburban city in King County, Washington, United States, located south of Seattle on Puget Sound. As of the 2020 census, Burien's population was 52,066, which is a 56.3% increase since incorporation in 1993, making it the 25th m ...

Awards

* 2009 Fuse Sizzle Award - Intercontinental Smackdown Champion. for her leadership in the Washington State Legislature and efforts to clean up the lending industry water pollution. Presented by Fuse.( ) * 2009 Fuse Sizzle Award - Mother Jones. Presented by Fuse.

References

External links

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Sharon 1951 births Living people 21st-century American women politicians Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Democratic Party Washington (state) state senators Whitman College alumni Women state legislators in Washington (state) 21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature