Former Democratic state legislator Sharon Metz was born in Omro, Wisconsin on September 13, 1934. She graduated from high school in Winneconne but delayed her college education until her family was almost grown, and she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 1984.
Prior to her election to the Legislature in 1974 she was a mother of four and a housewife in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where her husband was a school teacher. Her official biography indicates that at various times during her life she worked as a salesperson, receptionist, typist, and administrative assistant to the director of the local VISTA program. She was also an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and a member of numerous community organizations including the Voluntary Commission for Human Rights, the United Way, the Green Bay Welfare Commission (1973-1975), the Co-Care Neighborhood Action Group, and the Women's Club of Green Bay.
In the Legislature, Metz was appointed to the Environmental Quality Committee and named chair of its subcommittee on solar energy, and she quickly won a reputation for her environmental advocacy. In 1978 she was named legislator of the year by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. In 1979 she was named the first chair of the Assembly Energy Committee. In 1980, 1982, and 1984 she was named one of the top Wisconsin legislators by the Environmental Decade. Metz also achieved a statewide reputation for her strong support of child care issues. In 1982 she headed the Legislative Council's Special Study Committee on Child Care and Early Education.
In 1977 Metz was chairperson of the Internal Management Committee and co-chair of the Health and Social Service Committee's Subcommittee on Juvenile Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. In that same year she was also appointed co-chair of the Joint Audit Committee. In 1981 she became the first woman from the Assembly to be appointed to the Joint Finance Committee; two years later she was elected co-chair. Other committee appointments are listed in biennial editions of the Wisconsin Blue Book.
In 1985 Metz's growing political reputation and the absence of other women candidates for statewide office on the Democratic ticket prompted her to announce her candidacy for lieutenant governor. Although successful in winning the nomination in the primary election in 1986, she was defeated as part of the Earl-Metz ticket in the general election. Since leaving the legislature Metz has been director of the Lutheran Human Relations Association of America in Milwaukee.
