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Federico Pena Will Help Obama Pick Cabinet

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Nov 6, 2008 6:49 pm US/Mountain

Federico Pena Will Help Obama Pick Cabinet

 Election Results
Reporting
Terry Jessup
DENVER (CBS4) ― President-elect Barack Obama has a chief of staff, now he needs to assemble a cabinet and some high-profile Coloradans might be contenders.

Obama made his chief of staff selection official Thursday. He's Rahm Emanual, a congressman from Illinois. He worked under the Clinton Administration and is known for his ruthless, not-so-nice, style. Insiders say he'll be the bad cop to Obama's good cop.

Colorado and some neighboring states whose leaders helped Obama win are well-qualified to serve.

Obama's advisers say he'll pick his new government leaders with a sense of care over speed, with no cabinet selections announced until at least next week. And he will be relying on Former Denver Mayor Federico Pena to help him find what Pena calls "the best and the brightest."

When Obama gave his acceptance speech in Chicago, Pena was with him. Pena was a Clinton cabinet member and one of 12 people on an advisory board who will help Obama choose his.

"It would irresponsible of me to list any particular names," Pena told CBS4 Political Specialist Terry Jessup.

But Pena says the secretary of the interior may well come from the West.

"(It) would not be surprising at all, or a secretary of energy, or other positions frankly," Pena said. "There are lots of areas that Westerners can fill."

Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar has been mentioned for secretary of the interior. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is a possible secretary of state.

"Really I think a Westerner as secretary of the interior would be not just helpful, but imperative," Gov. Bill Ritter said.

Ritter says Salazar would be extremely well-qualified and mentioned neighboring state governors for other posts.

"Gov. Freudenthal in Wyoming, I think, is one of the smartest people I know in the West about energy issues," Ritter said. "I know Gov. Napolitano, she's a strong leader. She was head of the National Governor's Association. And Gov. Sebelius; those are all people that I've developed a very close relationship with that I would consider competent, qualified people to be a secretary and run a department."

But whether Obama wants them or they want the job, is for now a closely-guarded secret.

"They are very demanding jobs. They are seven days a week. Many of these jobs have significant international travel," Pena said. "When I was secretary of energy and secretary of transportation, I think I went to 30 countries."

When the president-elect does make his picks, they must then be confirmed by the full Senate. A single senator can hold up the process, but it should be easier for Obama with a heavy Democratic majority to consider his choices.

Salazar has said he likes the job he's got. That's what Ritter also said, but nobody's said they absolutely would refuse if they get a call with a cabinet job offer.

(© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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