OLYMPIA – Last week was one of pleasant surprises for state Rep. Sherry Appleton.
It started with the news that Gov. Jay Inslee was appointing the veteran Democratic lawmaker from Poulsbo to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and ended with her being named a 2013 Woman of Achievement by the YWCA of Kitsap County.
Appleton was appointed to the commission in 1995 by outgoing Gov. Mike Lowry, and was later reappointed by his successor, Gov. Gary Locke, serving a total of eight years in her first stint. According to the commission’s website, commissioners “receive and investigate allegations of judicial misconduct.” Commissioners “work to protect the integrity of the judicial process and promote public confidence in the courts. They also serve to improve and strengthen the judiciary by creating in judges a greater awareness of proper judicial behavior.”
Appleton, who is vice chairwoman of the House Committee on Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs, also serves on the House Public Safety Committee. She was appointed by presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to serve on the Washington State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and is a member of the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission and chairwoman of the commission’s Juvenile Sentencing Committee.
The YWCA of Kitsap County will honor her and 11 other honorees at an April 23 luncheon in Bremerton.
“For many reasons, this is one of the greatest honors I’ve received in my life,” Appleton said. “We all know the contributions the YWCA makes to the lives of girls and young women, and for them to offer me this title is something I’ll grateful for and proud of for a long time.”
Linda Joyce, executive director of the Kitsap YWCA, said Appleton was “a natural selection” for the honor. “She serves our communities in so many ways, with her dedication to children, families, veterans, women and public service. We’re honoring her and this year’s other Women of Achievement both for their own accomplishments, and as a reflection of the many contributions made by women throughout the county.”
