State Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Vashon) has been elected the leader of the Democratic Caucus in the state Legislature.

“I am honored to have been elected as leader by the Senate Democrats,” Nelson said in a press release following the announcement of the results last week. “We have a diverse caucus, but I believe I was elected by my colleagues because my foremost goal is to do what I was sent here by my constituents to do — work for them. I demonstrated my inclusive leadership style during the budget negotiations last year, and I intend to make that a focal point of my tenure as leader.”

As the assistant ranking member on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Nelson served as the lead Democratic writer on the 2013 capital budget. A former bank executive, she also serves on the Financial Institutions Committee.

Nelson is known on Vashon as instrumental in the fight against Glacier Northwest’s proposed mining expansion on Maury Island. Founder of the nonprofit Preserve Our Islands, Nelson joined the Legislature in 2007 as a state representative. During the 2010 legislative session, she was able to secure funds to help pay for the purchase of Glacier’s 236-acre property on Maury.

Nelson was elected to the Senate in 2010. She represents the 34th legislative district, which is comprised of Vashon and Maury Islands, parts of Burien, North Highline and West Seattle.