Sharla Gardner was born in Duluth’s West End (Lincoln Park) to a union household where her father worked as a crane operator at the Morgan Park steel plant. As the eldest of 6 children, she learned quickly the importance of responsibility and standing up for those who could not. Louis County Health and Human Service Department where she served families in a variety of direct casework capacities. W
hile working with families, she gained firsthand knowledge of how healthcare policies actually affect the people that they are intended to help. Sharla retired from the county in 2010. "I retired from public service to do more public service". As a city councilor for the past 8 years, Sharla worked tirelessly with fellow councilors (including current Mayor Emily Larson), community members, and with former Mayor Don Ness to advance a progressive vision for Duluth. Sharla was a driving force in establishing Duluth’s Citizen’s Review Board, which helps to maintain essential lines of communication between the police department and the community and offers citizens a constructive means to pursue concerns with police practices in the community. Working with Duluth’s downtown business community, Sharla helped to develop and implement the strategy that successfully addressed the synthetic drug issue at the Last Place on Earth. After the passing of her beloved husband, Sharla moved to a bungalow in the East Hillside. She enjoys spending time with her two grown sons Brian and Mark and her fur friends. Sharla likes to explore Duluth’s burgeoning artistic and cultural scene, which inspired her to play a critical role in the recent rebranding of the Old Downtown neighborhood as Duluth’s Historic Arts and Theater District (HArT).
