OLYMPIA - State Representative Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma) was sworn into office on Saturday by Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Steve Gonzalez.

“As the child of Mexican immigrants and the first person in my family to go to college, I am focused on pursuing policies that will empower working families to prosper,” said Mena in a release by Washington House Democrats. “I am excited to get down to Olympia and get to work building a Washington that works for everyone.”

Mena is a representative of the 29th Legislative District which includes Parkland and South Tacoma, along with parts of Lakewood, Frederickson and Spanaway. During the 2023 legislative session, Mena will serve on the State Government & Tribal Relations, Environment & Energy, and Transportation committees.

The release states that prior to joining the Legislature, Mena has experience working for the Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, in the US House of Representatives and the Washington State Senate. She is a board member of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and was appointed by Inslee to serve on the Governor’s Pandemic After Action Review Task Force as a representative of the immigrant community.