State Rep. Sherry Appleton has been tapped once again by her colleagues to chair the House committee on Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs.

“I’m grateful to have the trust of my colleagues,” Appleton said. “Our committee is going to be a busy one during the next two years, dealing with issues that are vital to our district, and the entire state. I’m looking forward to the opening gavel next month.”

Appleton, a Poulsbo Democrat, is one of two representatives from the 23rd District in the state House.

Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee is charged with considering issues relating to, among other things, community development, veteran-related legislation, tourism and the government-to-government relationship of the state and Indian tribes.

The committee also considers bills relating to housing, including the accessibility and affordability of housing, state assistance to low-income housing, housing authorities, and the Housing Finance Commission.

Appleton took the reins of the committee last January, when the previous chair was appointed to an open seat in the state Senate. Appleton had been serving as vice chair, but her elevation to the chair was not automatic; members of the majority party choose committee leaders based on merit, and her peers felt Appleton was best-suited for the job.

The 105-day 2015 session of the Legislature opens Jan. 12 in Olympia.

In addition to chairing the Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee, Appleton will serve on the House State Government and Public Safety committees.

Besides her legislative duties, Appleton serves on Washington State Council on Aging and sits on the board of the Office of Public Defense.  She also was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to the Commission on Judicial Conduct.