Linda Evans Parlette

Linda Evans Parlette is a fourth generation resident of North Central Washington. She grew up on her family's apple orchard in Chelan and graduated from Chelan High School in 1963. She attended Washington State University, graduated from the College of Pharmacy with honors in 1968, and has worked for the past 30 years as a pharmacist throughout Chelan County. She and her husband, Bob Parlette, also own and operate a cherry orchard in the Wenatchee Heights area.

Parlette has been active in the community, serving on the boards of the Lake Chelan School District and the North Central Educational Service District. She was a member of Class 2 of the Washington State Ag-Forestry Program and is now serving her third term on the Washington Ag-Forestry Education Foundation.

In her first term in the House of Representatives (1997/98), Parlette served as vice-chair for the Agriculture and Ecology committee and was also a member of the Health Care, Appropriations and Vendor Contracting committees. In her second House term, (1999/2000), Parlette served as the co-chair of the Health Care committee and was a member of the Appropriations committee.

Parlette has been recognized both in and out of politics for her leadership. In 1995 she was given the Lewis and Clark Elementary School Trailblazer Award for her efforts in creating the "Lunch Buddy" program, a Rotarian service project that provides needy childrn with positive adult role models.
Also in 1995, Parlette was the first ever recipient of the Margaret Chase Smith award. The award, presented by the Washington Federation of Republican Women, was established to commemorate the accomplishments of US Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who earned a reputation for personal independence and integrity.

More recent awards:

• Wenatchee Business Journal's Reader's Choice award for "Most Trusted Elected Official in the Valley"
• North Central Educational Service District's "Appreciation" award
• Washington State Hospital Association's "Rural Legislator of the Year" award
  

Parlette is a member of:

• Chelan-Douglas Pharmaceutical Association
• Washington State Pharmaceutical Association
• Washington State Horticultural Association
• Association of Washington Business
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Chelan United Methodist Church
• Wenatchee Rotary Club where she is a Paul Harris Sustaining Member

Parlette's parents are Ray and Jessie O'Neal of Chelan. She and her husband, Bob, have a blended family of five children. Their youngest son, Andy, will be a senior at Wenatchee High School. Parlette's sons are Guy Evans of Wenatchee and Lucas Evans of Ellensburg.

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