SACRAMENTO -- Newly-elected Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) was named to Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez's leadership team and was appointed Assistant Majority Whip on Monday.

"I accept this opportunity to serve Californians as a member of the leadership of the State Assembly," Assemblymember Saldaña said. "We have very important business ahead of us and I'm anxious to get started."

The Whip is primarily responsible for counting potential votes and for promoting unity in voting.

Saldaña has been a community leader and educator in the San Diego community for decades. She served as President Clinton's appointee to the Border Environment Cooperation Commission's Advisory Council (1999) to review, plan and fund water quality improvement projects in San Diego and Tijuana. Saldaña - a San Diego/Imperial Valley Chapter Chair of the Sierra Club - also served as Chairwoman of the San Diego Wetlands Advisory Board from 1992 to 1994.

On Monday, Saldaña was sworn into the Assembly, along with 14 other newly-elected Democrats. The Assembly is made up of 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans, the same split as Assembly in the last session. Saldaña replaced former Assemblymember Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), who was elected to the State Senate in November.