Lincoln Sen. Amanda McGill was elected Thursday to chair the Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee.

She will succeed Omaha Sen. Mike Friend, who resigned this summer to become the first director of the state's Office of Violence Prevention.

McGill defeated Sen. Scott Price of Bellevue on a 27-21 vote.

She has served on Urban Affairs for three years, and has been vice chairman. During that time, she said, Friend taught her how to run the committee through open discussion and building consensus.

After Friend resigned, she said, she worked with him to provide a smooth transition.

She knows the issues, she told senators, and the people involved in them.

With the election of McGill, three women now hold leadership positions on standing committees. Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine is chairwoman of the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue chairs the Revenue Committee.

Reach JoAnne Young at 473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com.