Yvonne Lopez-Morton, a Spokane Public Schools project assistant and longtime anti-discrimination advocate, has been picked by Gov. Chris Gregoire to chair the state Human Rights Commission.

"Yvonne Lopez-Morton has spent a lifetime of advocacy speaking out against racism and discrimination," Gregoire said Wednesday. "I am pleased to appoint someone with such a vital and passionate commitment to social justice to this position."

Lopez-Morton, 60, is past chair of the state Commission on Hispanic Affairs and past president of the Spoknae Hispanic Business Professional Association. She serves on a wide variety of local groups, including Spokane County's civil service commission and Spokane's task force on human relations.

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