AUGUSTA – Barbara Trafton of Auburn has been confirmed as a member and new chairwoman of the Maine State Housing Authority board of commissioners. She was nominated by Gov. John E. Baldacci and confirmed by the Maine Senate.

Trafton is the first board member to serve as chairwoman without being the MaineHousing director. The Maine Legislature this year increased the number of board members from seven to 10, and changed the chair position from the MaineHousing director to a board member.

Trafton has been a Realtor for two years and works for Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine in Auburn, where she works with both residential and commercial clients. Prior to that, she served as campaign chair for the Auburn Public Library for six years. She also served in the Maine Legislature from 1976 to 1982, first as a state representative and later as a state senator.

She was the Auburn Citizen of the Year in 2002, and has served on numerous local and statewide boards. She is the author of “Women Winning: How to Run for Office,” which was published in 1984.

Trafton graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, and later earned a master of science degree in education at the University of Southern Maine and a master of business administration from Northeastern University. She taught at Gray-New Gloucester Junior High School and chaired the English department at Carrabassett Valley Academy.