[CCCNFBW] The Columbian: 49th Legislative District, Position 1: Kim Harless vs. Sarah Mittelman

[Merribeth Greenberg]

49th Legislative District, Position 1: Kim Harless vs. Sarah Mittelman
Both candidates say affordability, public safety are priorities
Photo of Will Denner
By Will Denner, Columbian Staff Reporter
Published: October 7, 2026, 2:00pm
49th Legislative District, Position 1: Kim Harless vs. Sarah Mittelman -
The Columbian
<https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/oct/07/49th-legislative-district-position-1-kim-harless-vs-sarah-mittelman/>

Alt text from picture: Kim Harless, left and Sarah Mittelman are vying for
the 49th Legislative District, Position 1 seat. (Contributed photos)

For the first time in 15 years, voters will elect a new state
representative in the 49th Legislative District’s Position 1.

Voters will choose between Democrat Kim Harless, who has served two terms
on the Vancouver City Council, and Republican Sarah Mittelman, a political
newcomer.

Harless, 39, works at the Native American Youth and Family Center.
Mittelman, 51, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who’s
worked in healthcare for more than 20 years.

They are running for the seat long held by Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver,
who announced earlier this year she wouldn’t be seeking reelection. The
district encompasses most of Vancouver.

49th District House Position 1 Candidates
— 2026 General Election —

Kim Harless
Age: 39 years old
Residence: Vancouver
Party: Democratic
Web site: votekimharless.com
Education: Washington State University Vancouver, Bachelor of Science in
Environmental Science; Clark College.
Occupation: Community engagement director at Native American Youth and
Family Center
Political experience: Vancouver City Council; Clark County Charter Review
Commission and Co-Chair
Major endorsements: Gov. Bob Ferguson, state Sens. Annette Cleveland and
Adrian Cortes, state Rep. Monica Stonier, American Federation of Teachers

Sarah Mittelman
Age: 51 years old
Residence: Vancouver
Party: Republican
Web site: sarah4wa.com
Education: Doctor of Nursing Practice, Frontier Nursing University; MSN,
Frontier Nursing University; BSN, Oregon Health & Science University; ADN,
Clark College.
Occupation: Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
Political experience: None
Major endorsements: Mainstream Republicans of Washington State, Advance
Practice Registered Nurses of Washington State, Stand for Health Freedom

In the August primary, Harless captured 52 percent of the nearly 34,000
votes cast and Mittelman earned 28 percent of votes to advance to the Nov.
3 general election.

Harless believes her experience in local government — both on the city
council and a prior stint on the Clark County Charter Review Commission
—will translate well to the state level.

“A lot of it comes down to experience,” Harless said. “I already have those
relationships up in Olympia and those relationships are only going to grow,
so I’ll be the most effective leader … between me and my opponent.”

Mittelman doesn’t have prior elected experience, although she previously
served as vice chair of the Oregon Nurses Foundation and was also a union
leader in the Oregon Nurses Association.

Both candidates said they would focus on effective government policy,
affordability and public safety, but offered different approaches.

Harless spoke of the “affordability crisis” affecting Southwest Washington
constituents and beyond. She said it’s important to implement a state
budget that doesn’t place a greater burden on them.

“With housing and a lot of stuff … that federal level is out of our
control. However, there are some levers we can pull, especially at the
state level and, of course, locally, too,” Harless said.

Harless said she supports Washington’s capital gains tax and the so-called
“millionaires’ tax” approved by the Legislature earlier this year.
Mittelman opposes that tax, as well as capital gains taxes and an overall
state income tax.

“We are already dealing with high housing costs, healthcare expenses,
energy costs, transportation costs and taxes that continue to add up,” she
said. “We should be looking for ways to make it easier to live, work, raise
a family and retire here, not creating another major tax structure that can
grow over time.”

The candidates also differ on the best way to address public safety.

Harless said it’s important “the right people are responding to the right
calls,” particularly during mental health crises to ensure positive
outcomes for everyone involved.

Harless said she also understands public safety means many different things
to different people, from proper lighting along city sidewalks to police
and fire departments’ response times.

Mittelman argues public safety is intertwined with homelessness and
behavioral health. She called for stronger government accountability in
these areas.

“We need better access to mental health and substance use treatment,
stronger pathways to recovery and better coordination between healthcare,
law enforcement and community services,” Mittelman said. “Just as
importantly, we should be willing to measure whether the programs we are
funding are actually helping people become safer, healthier and more
stable.”

Mittelman previously served as chair of the Clark County Democratic Women
but recently flipped to the Republican Party. She said she wants to bring a
different perspective to the 49th District, but believes community members
can find common ground across party lines.

“I am a Republican, but I do not believe every issue has to be viewed
through a partisan lens,” Mittelman said.

Harless is outpacing Mittelman in campaign fundraising, according to the
Public Disclosure Commission, with around $66,000 raised compared to
$27,000 for Mittelman. Both Harless and Mittelman have received the
majority of their contributions from individuals, while between 6 and 4
percent, respectively, have come from political action committees.

Donors for Harless include the International Association of Firefighters
Local 452, Washington Federation of State Employees and Cowlitz Indian
Tribe. Many of Mittelman’s top donors are individuals, along with the Clark
County Republican Party, PEG Management and Washington Collectors
Association.
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