Jeanette Berleen Burrage (Republican) represented [the 31st] district of King County in the House of Representatives. Elected in 1980, she served one term.

Born in North Dakota, Berleen and her family moved to Burien when she was one. She attended Highline Community College (A.A.) and the University of Washington where she received her B.A. in Business Administration. Berleen has worked as an accountant for Puget Sound Hospital, and the Washington State Hospital Commission.

Berleen became interested in politics because she felt she had something to offer, and wanted to contribute. As a delegate to a Republican district convention in 1976, she demonstrated her interest in the issues and her willingness to get up and talk about them. Berleen was encouraged by the other delegates to offer herself as a candidate. She agreed, but there were formidable obstacles. Lack of name familiarity in the party and the Democrat character of the district resulted in two campaign failures for her. In 1980, with an established political base and greater community ties, Berleen campaigned for the third time and won.

Representative Berleen served as the vice-chair for the Appropriations/Human Services Services Committee.

--Political Pioneers, The Women Lawmakers