Obama to Name Charlotte Mayor as Transportation Secretary
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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — President Obama will nominate Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx as the new Transportation secretary on Monday, a White House official said.
Foxx, who has served as mayor of Charlotte since 2009, has overseen several major infrastructure initiatives in the city and rose to prominence after bringing the Democratic National Convention to Charlotte last year.
Foxx will be the first African American nominated to the president’s cabinet this year, and if confirmed, he will be one of two African Americans, in addition to Attorney General Eric Holder, serving in the Cabinet.
The president was criticized earlier this year over a lack of diversity in his early appointments in his second term, but last month, he announced a trio of cabinet positions, including two women, which upped the diversity level in top level positions.
Foxx would replace current Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, who is staying in the post until a new secretary is confirmed.
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