Recommended Endorsements
42nd LD
Defending & Growing Our Majorities
The 42nd is a true swing district: in the past six years, three elections were decided by less than 200 votes.
This year, the 42nd is ground-zero for defending our pro-Union House majority & sending a champion for our values to the Senate, where pro-business interests hold back our priorities.
Our union has endorsed incumbents Rep. Sharon Shewmake & Rep. Alicia Rule, who stood with us on Safe Staffing. This year, Rep. Shewmake is running for Senate, leaving an open House seat where we’ve endorsed Joe Timmons.
Why We Care
Defending our progress — If Republicans take back these seats, our fight for Safe Staffing could roll back to step one.
Gaining a Senate vote on Safe Staffing – our bill passed the House but died in the Senate. Sending Sharon Shewmake to the Senate will bring us closer to winning this fight.
The Democratic incumbents are champions for our values – Rep. Shewmake champions our priorities of Affordable Housing & Climate Justice, while Rep. Rule, a LICSW, leads on Behavioral Health policy.
Rep. Sharon Shewmake
On Our Issues:
- Safe Staffing
- Worker Protection Act
- Affordable Housing & Behavioral Health Funding
Bio
“I ran for office because I believe people can make a difference. Now I’m running for State Senate because I know that’s true.
Our community shows up to help one another, whether it is pulling people from vehicles or bringing a neighbor without power a hot meal, and now we need to pull together to rebuild our infrastructure and ensure we are building our economy on the higher ground for long term prosperity and stability.
When a community shows up as much as Whatcom County does, it needs a State Senator who works just as hard as you do. You can count on me every day to put the people of Whatcom County first. As we can see, decisions made in Olympia impact you, and we have an opportunity to be heard on the issues we care most about: economic recovery, rebuilding our roads, affordable housing, childcare, improving our floodplains, and sustainable farming.”
– Rep. Sharon Shewmake
Rep. Alicia Rule
On Our Issues:
- Safe Staffing
- Worker Protection Act
- Affordable Housing & Behavioral Health Funding
Bio
Before you decide to support my campaign, I thought that you’d like to know something about me.
My family has been in Whatcom County for five generations – both sides of my great-grandparents immigrated from Holland, like so many of us in this region. My grandparents owned a farm in Sumas. My father graduated from Lynden Christian and my mother from Nooksack. He was a truck driver, delivering hay for many local dairies, and my mother currently works for Peacehealth.
I graduated from Meridian High School (go Trojans!) and went on to get my bachelor’s degree from the UW and later a master’s degree. I’ve focused my professional career as both a social worker and therapist in private practice. I’ve professionally worked to help adoptions, in the schools helping kids who are struggling, support people living with disabilities, children who have been abused, sexual abuse survivors and hospice care. Currently, I own Rule and Associates, a small therapy practice.
I’ve also launched and served as the past president of the Blaine Downtown Development Association, working with small business owners to help attract family wage jobs here.
Currently, I am serving my first term as a Representative for the 42nd Legislative District in Olympia. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished on education, healthcare, and child welfare during my first term, but there is still a lot to do.
I’ve always been active in the community. Over the years, I’ve volunteered countless hours, including for Kids in the Kitchen, an annual event combating childhood obesity, a backpack and school supply drives for low-income children, organizing a community wide health fair to help uninsured and underinsured children, as well as for community organizations like Junior League.
While I’ve had a lot of titles, the most important one to me is the mother of three boys.
Joe Timmons
On Our Issues:
- Safe Staffing
- Worker Protection Act
- Affordable Housing & Behavioral Health Funding
Bio
Becoming a first-time father during the pandemic has made me more committed than ever to working toward a future where all residents of Whatcom County are thriving. I’m running to ensure that everyone in our community has equitable access to affordable housing across the housing continuum; living wage jobs in their communities; high-quality educational opportunities for learners of all ages; and reliable internet for connecting with jobs, school, and health care.
I have spent the last decade working in public service at the local, state, and federal levels of government. I am passionate about state government, and I am ready to hit the ground running to serve as your representative in the Legislature. I have experience in Olympia as an advocate for this community, and I know how to work with the Legislature to get things done. I will be a champion for everyone in Whatcom County, no matter their political affiliation.