OLYMPIA – Snohomish County lawmakers will play a key role next year in how the state Legislature deals with education, transportation, crime and the environment.
Democrats, who hold the majority in the Legislature, have named leaders for each committee in the state Senate and House of Representatives.
In the Senate, as expected, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, moves up from vice-chairwoman to run the influential Transportation Committee.
Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, will be chairwoman of the new Early Learning, K-12 and Higher Education committee. This panel merges two committees from last session, one that studied higher education and a second that focused on elementary and secondary schools.
Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, will guide the International Trade and Economic Development Committee and be vice chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.
Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, will oversee Financial Institutions, Housing and Consumer Protection, and Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, will serve as that committee’s vice-chairwoman. Berkey also will be vice-chairwoman of the Government Operations and Elections Committee.
In the House, Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, retained his job as speaker pro tempore, a post that often has him wielding the gavel during floor sessions.
Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, retains his chairmanship of the powerful Capital Budget panel that decides the state’s major construction projects, and Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace, continues as chairman of the Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee.
Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Mukilteo, has been named to run the new Natural Resources, Ecology and Parks Committee.
Leaders of both parties are expected later this month to name which members will serve on each committee.
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