| First elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997, Penny Houston (R-Nashville) has distinguished herself as a tireless advocate for the people in her House district and the economic development of rural Georgia. She serves House District 170, which includes Berrien and Cook counties and portions of Tift County. Representative Houston serves as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development, which oversees state budget funds for the Department of Agriculture, Department of Community Affairs, Department of Economic Development, Georgia Ports Authority, World Congress Center, Georgia Forestry Commission, Public Service Commission and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission. She also serves on the Ways & Means, Banks & Banking, Economic Development & Tourism, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Appropriations committees, as well as the House Rural Development Council. In addition to her House leadership roles, Rep. Houston was appointed by the Speaker of the House to work on special committees during previous legislative terms, including the Special Committee on Economic Growth, Special Committee to Access and Quality Health Care, Special Committee Exploring Floor and Trade Charity Care System and the Study Committee on the Atlanta State Farmers Market. Rep. Houston also serves as the chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference Fiscal Affairs and Government Operations Committee, Joint House and Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee, Tobacco Community Development Board, National Conference of State Legislatures Health and Education Committees and the Georgia Commission on Family Violence Board. In her district, Penny is an active member of the Nashville United Methodist Church and is a board member of the Methodist Home in Macon, Georgia. She is a member of the Nashville Woman's Club; the Berrien, Tift and Cook County chambers of commerce and serves as an executive member of the Berrien County Chamber's board. She is an honorary member of the Nashville Rotary Club. An advocate for children, Penny has been involved with the Georgia Sheriff's Youth Homes for more than 30 years and is a member emeritus of the Georgia Sheriff's Boys Ranch Board in Hahira. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Speech School. Penny is a product of rural Georgia. She was raised in Leary, Georgia and has made Nashville home for more nearly 50 years. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and from the University of Georgia. Penny enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her three children and six grandchildren |