The Pierce County Council unanimously voted Jan. 10 to re-appoint Councilmember Shawn Bunney as chair for the second consecutive year.

In addition to serving as Rules and Operations Committee chair, Bunney will continue serving on the Economic and Infrastructure Development Committee.

“It is an honor to be chairman of this particularly outstanding group of elected officials,” Bunney said. “I am committed to continuing the open and fair process used with great success during 2005 and before. I see the chairman’s responsibility as giving each member the opportunity to participate fully regardless of differing views on issues, and in my opinion the council is working together in a highly effective manner.”

Bunney was elected by the seven-member executive committee as 2006 chair of the Regional Transportation Investment District, which is composed by the 25 council members in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. The district was created by the Legislature to identify projects and funding sources for regional highway projects of statewide significance.

The 42-year-old District 1 councilmember represents the north and east county area including Edgewood, Milton, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Wilkeson, Carbonado, South Prairie and Orting.