Pflug served the 5th District in the State Legislature for nearly 14 years before being appointed to the Growth Management Hearings Board by Governor Gregoire in May 2012. The 5th District straddles the Urban Growth Line, causing local governments to continually struggle to balance the need for infrastructure and services with a commitment to preserving community character, open space, fish habitat and pristine recreational areas. Over the course of her legislative career, Pflug used her health care experience to improve health outcomes while reducing unnecessary costs, authoring several first-in-the-nation innovations that were adopted into law and pushing through legislation to give the office of the Attorney General strong tools to prosecute multimillion-dollar corporate Medicaid fraud schemes. Pflug also championed infrastructure, education, http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/05/29/state-sen-cheryl-pflug-departs-suddenly-to-accept-board-post/ hatchery and parks improvements to support the needs of the rapidly growing communities she represented. As a legislator, Pflug earned a reputation as "an independent workhorse" willing to work across party lines. She crafted legislation to create treatment alternatives for nonviolent mentally-ill misdemeanants and cast the decisive vote to create a simple-majority requirement for school levies. In 2008, Pflug was honored with the commission of Washington General for commitment to her community and service to the state of Washington, and the "Champion of Freedom Award" in 2012. Often questioned for her growing cynicism, Pflug also paid a price for defying her party leaders but rarely backed down.
Appointment to the Growth Management Planning Board
In May 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire nominated Pflug to a seat on the Growth Management Planning Board. Following the appointment, Republican Party ChairmanKirby Wilbur suggested the appointment was a "deal" to give the Democrats her Senate seat, an allegation called "hypocritical" by observers. Pflug resigned her Senate seat on June 30, 2012, the day before her Growth Board appointment commenced on July 1, 2012. On July 11, 2012, Dino Rossi was appointed to fill the term of Pflug. In November 2012, Mark Mullet was elected to represent the 5th legislative district in the senate.
