Californians push state transportation leader for DOT post

California lawmakers want Steve Heminger to be the next Transportation Secretary. (The Trucker file photo)

The Associated Press

11/27/2008

WASHINGTON — San Francisco Bay area Democrats want to send a local transportation leader to Washington as Transportation Secretary.

Eight members of Congress from the region have delivered a letter to President-elect Barack Obama in support of Steve Heminger, executive director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the transportation planning agency for the Bay Area.

Signers included Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Rep. Ellen Tauscher, a senior member of the House Transportation Committee; and Rep. George Miller, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee and a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco.

"As the transportation leader for the Bay Area, Steve's responsibilities rival those of most state departments of transportation," they wrote in the letter dated Nov. 21 and obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday. "As secretary, Steve would bring a fresh approach to the federal transportation program and an understanding of the importance of an efficient metropolitan transportation system to our nation's economy."

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Randy Rentschler, declined comment Tuesday.

Heminger is little known beyond the transportation community but is a favorite of smart-growth advocates.

He is friendly with Pelosi, who appointed him to a national commission on transportation policy.

Other names circulating as possibilities for the job include Mortimer Downey, former deputy transportation secretary; Jane Garvey, former head of the Federal Aviation Administration; and James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Garvey is considered in some circles to be the front runner.

The Trucker Staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.