Lewiston state Sen. Margaret Rotundo’s appointment to head up the powerful Appropriations Committee was just one of the committee assignments made recently in preparation for the opening of the 122nd Maine Legislature next month.

Rotundo was one of several lawmakers from central and western Maine towns picked to lead committees. Among them are John Nutting, a dairy farmer from Leeds who returned to the Senate after a hiatus when he ran unsuccessfully for Congress. He will be Senate chairman of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. And Rep. Deborah L. Pelletier-Simpson, an Auburn Democrat serving her third term, was named House chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee. Other committee assignments for area lawmakers are:

Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Senate

n John M. Nutting, chairman, D-Leeds

n Bruce S. Bryant, D-Dixfield

House

n Raymond G. Pineau, D-Jay

n Rodney C. Jennings, D-Leeds

n Arlan R. Jodrey, R-Bethel
Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Senate

n Margaret Rotundo, chairwoman, D-Lewiston

House

n Margaret M. Craven, D-Lewiston

n Janet T. Mills, D-Farmington

n H. Sawin Millett Jr., R-Waterford
Business, Research and Economic Development
House

n Nancy E. Smith, chairwoman, D-Monmouth

n Charles Earl Crosby III, D-Topsham

n Lillian LaFontaine O’Brien, D-Lewiston

n Susan M. Austin, R-Gray

n Robert A. Berube, R-Lisbon
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Senate

n John M. Nutting, D-Leeds

House

n Richard M. Sykes, R-Harrison
Education and Cultural Affairs
House

n Elaine Makas, D-Lewiston

n Scott E. Lansley, R-Sabattus
Health and Human Services
Senate

n Arthur F. Mayo III, chairman, D-Bath

House

n William R. Walcott, D-Lewiston

n Thomas F. Shields, R-Auburn
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Senate

n Bruce S. Bryant, chairman, D-Dixfield

n Chandler E. Woodcock, R-Farmington

House

n Stanley A. Moody, D-Manchester

n Earl E. Richardson, R-Greenville

n Richard M. Cebra, R-Naples
Insurance and Financial Services
Senate

n Arthur F. Mayo III, D-Bath

n Peter Mills, R-Skowhegan

House

n Michael A. Vaughan, R-Durham
Judiciary
Senate

n David R. Hastings III, R-Fryeburg

House

n Deborah L. Pelletier-Simpson, chairwoman, D-Auburn

n Joan Bryant-Deschenes, R-Turner
Labor
Senate

n Lois A. Snowe-Mello, R-Poland

House

n James M. Hamper, R-Oxford

n Deborah J. Hutton, D-Bowdoinham
Legal and Veterans Affairs
House

n John L. Patrick, chairman, D-Rumford

n Randy E. Hotham, R-Dixfield
Natural Resources
Senate

n Lois A. Snowe-Mello, R-Poland

House

n Thomas B. Saviello, D-Wilton
State and Local Government
Senate

n Margaret Rotundo, D-Lewiston

House

n Sonya G. Sampson, D-Auburn
Taxation
House

n Deborah J. Hutton, D-Bowdoinham

n Raymond G. Pineau, D-Jay

n Bruce Q. Hanley, R-Paris
Transportation
House

n Sonya G. Sampson, D-Auburn
Utilities and Energy
House

n Maitland E. Richardson, R-Skowhegan
Joint Select Committee on Property Tax Reform
Senate

n Peter Mills, R-Skowhegan

House

n Nancy E. Smith, D-Monmouth