Mary Ellen McCaffree

Mary Ellen McCaffree
Mary Ellen McCaffree (Republican) represented [the 32nd] district of King County in the House of Representatives for four terms, from 1962 to 1970.

Born 1918, in El Dorado, Kansas, to a farming family. Her father was a member of the school board, and her mother was a Farm Bureau volunteer. McCaffree graduated from Kansas State University as a dietlcian. She married and raised five children. Having children in school sparked her interest in the school system and its financial problems. As a member of the League of Women Voters, she lobbied the Legislature for better funding for education.

McCaffree became involved in many political concerns. She was vice-president for legislation in the King County PTA, president of the King County League of Women Voters, a member of the Municipal League, member of the Tax Advisory Council and chairwoman of the Council's Property Tax Committee.

An expert in taxation, Representative McCaffree was the chairwoman of both the Tax and Revenue Committee and the Revenue and Regulatory Agencies Committee. Recognizing her expertise. Governor Evans appointed McCaffree director of the Department of Revenue after her resignation from the legislature. McCaffree also served as aide to U.S. Senator Slade Gorton.

--Political Pioneers, The Women Lawmakers