Westerners in Washington

The Obama Team: Richardson to Commerce

By Jonathan Weber , 11-23-08

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a one-time Clinton Administration Energy Secretary who infuriated his former patron with a critical early endorsement of Obama, will be named Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration. The popular governor had made no secret of his desire to return to Washington, but was taken out of the running for Secretary of State when that job went to Hillary Clinton.

Obama has also decided on his key economic advisors, with New York Federal Reserve president Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary and former Treasury chief and Harvard President Lawrence Summers as head of the National economics Council. Obama also said in a radio address Saturday that he plans to launch a broad jobs-based stimulous package.

Richardson's appointment follows the selection of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as head of Homeland Security. With former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle heading Health and Human Services, and with Montanan Jim Messina playing a key role as head of personnel at the White House, Westerners seem to be well-represented on the Obama team so far.

But there's still no clear indication on the cabinet jobs that are most important for the West: the Departments of Interior, Energy and Agriculture.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.