Sen. Salazar lands Interior, sources say

Obama's choice for Cabinet position called a 'done deal'

By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 16, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

President-elect Barack Obama, shown Sept. 15 while running for president, joins Sen. Ken Salazar in greeting supporters at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.

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Sen. Ken Salazar is expected to become Interior secretary in President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet, with a formal announcement to come within days, sources told the Rocky Mountain News on Monday.

Salazar has long been considered a leading candidate for Interior secretary, based in part on his past work leading the state Department of Natural Resources.

On Monday, three Democratic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said Salazar had been offered the job, and the announcement was expected within 48 hours.

"It's a done deal," said one source, although others said it was a difficult decision for Salazar, four years into his first term as U.S. senator.

"He's a very thoughtful guy, and this is a big decision," one source said. "It's a great opportunity, but so is being in the Senate."

At a televised news conference earlier in the day, Obama had to explain why he left out an announcement of the Interior secretary position while he was unveiling the rest of the team that will oversee energy and environment issues.

The Interior secretary oversees vast tracts of public lands, including environmentally sensitive areas where President Bush's Interior Department tried to vastly expand oil drilling and minerals extraction.

"In the 21st century, we know that the future of our economy and national security is inextricably linked to one challenge: energy," Obama said. "So today I'm pleased to introduce the majority of the team that will lead our efforts on energy and the environment. I say the majority because we are going to be doing separate announcements for the secretary of the Interior, who is going to have a lot to do on energy policy."

The Reuters news agency first touched off the new round of speculation with a report calling Salazar "the leading contender." Already, political observers in Colorado were speculating about the political ramifications, since Gov. Bill Ritter would have to pick a replacement to fill out the remaining two years of Salazar's term.

"I have very mixed emotions," Ritter said in a written statement. "Ken Salazar has been an extremely effective United States Senator for Colorado these past four years, particularly as a moderate centrist. But if a nomination to join the Obama administration comes to pass, Sen. Salazar would make an equally outstanding Interior secretary for the country, for the West and for Colorado.

"He has a long and accomplished record on these issues, from his days in the Romer administration to his time as Colorado's attorney general and as a U.S. Senator. For now, though, we shall wait and see what, if anything, transpires."

Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said that Salazar would be a great choice. But he also raised concerns about the future of the U.S. Senate seat.

"One caveat with Ken Salazar is a concern about his Senate seat," Wilkes said. "We only have three Latino senators. We'd like to hold on to those seats. And that's a seat that could go Republican easily if you don't have the right candidate."

Sen. Ken Salazar

* Born: March 2, 1955

* Hometown: Alamosa. Grew up on a farm in the San Luis Valley, where his family has lived and farmed for five generations.

* Education: Attended Centauri High School and St. Francis Seminary. Earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Colorado College in 1977 and a law degree from the University of Michigan in 1981.

* Private career: Helped operate the family farm in the San Luis Valley. Owned and helped operate a variety of small businesses - including a Dairy Queen franchise - and a private law practice.

* Public service: Served in former Gov. Roy Romer's Cabinet from 1987 to 1994. Served as Colorado attorney general from 1999 to 2004. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

U.S. Department of the Interior

Mission statement

The Mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide access to our nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities.

Department goals

* Resource protection - protect the nation's natural, cultural and heritage resources

* Resource use - manage resources to promote responsible use and sustain a dynamic economy

* Recreation - provide recreation opportunities

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