First elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1998, Penny Houston (R-Nashville) has distinguished herself as a tireless advocate for children and those in need. She represents House District 170 covering parts of Berrien and Colquitt Counties and all of Cook County.

Houston serves as Vice-Chairman of Appropriations/Human Resources budgeting money for the Department of Human Resources, the Department Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Labor and the Department of Veteran Affairs. She also serves on the Banks and Banking, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Ways and Means, and State Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committees.

She has served on the One Georgia Authority, the Georgia Tobacco Community Development Board and Overview Committee and the National Conference of State Legislatures Health and Education Committees. She has represented Georgia at the National Conference of Agriculture Leaders in Washington DC. She served on the Special Committee on Certificate of Need as well as the Special Committee on Grady Hospital. Recently, Houston was appointed to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence by Speaker David Ralston. Before her election to the statehouse, she was the first woman to serve on the Berrien County School Board, serving eight years, three as Vice-Chairman.

At home, Houston is an active member of the Nashville United Methodist Church. She is a member of the Nashville Woman’s Club, the Berrien, Colquitt 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. She has been involved with the Georgia Sheriff’’s Youth Homes for more than 30 years and currently serves as a member of the Boys Ranch board of Directors in Hahira.

A life-long Georgian, Houston grew up in Leary but has resided in Nashville for more than 40 years. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and from the University of Georgia. She has three children and four grandchildren.