JEFFERSON CITY - State Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley, was named last week by House Speaker Bob Griffin to serve as vice chairman of the Fees and Salaries Committee.

Williams, who was elected to her seat last February after former Rep. Jerry Howard was elected to the Senate, said she was honored to have the opportunity to move into a committee leadership role.

Williams had not been serving on the committee until Griffin's appointment last week. She now has five committee assignments in the House, normally the most any representative can hold.

The committee considers and reports on bills and matters relating to the fees and salaries of state and local officials and employees.

"This is a pretty good committee and a lot of important legislation is handled by it," said Williams.

"State and local budgets will place increased demands on salary allocations. Through serving on this committee, I hope to balance the limited governmental resources with employee needs."

The chairman of the Fees and Salaries Committee is Rep. Bob Sego, D-Raytown, who is serving his ninth term in the House.

Griffin said he believes Williams has the background to do a good job in her new role. "I appointed Rep. Williams with the utmost confidence that her background and expertise will prove most beneficial to her leadership role in this committee," he said.

Williams has also moved to a new office in the Capitol, going from the first floor to the fourth floor. Her new office number is Room 400-CA. Her capitol telephone number is 751-0728.

Williams also serves on the committees for agriculture; elementary and secondary education; governmental organization; and the appropriations committee for health and mental health.

She presently represents the 156th District that includes a large part of Stoddard County, including Dexter, Bernie, and Bloomfield; and a large part of Bollinger County that includes Marble Hill. Puxico is also in her present district.

As the result of redistricting, Williams will be running for re-election in the 159th District, which will include most of Stoddard County and west Scott County, including the cities of Chaffee, Morley, Oran and Perkins.