Obama Nabs Salazar For Interior Secretary

Colorado Democratic senator known for tough stance on environmental issues

President-Elect Barack "I Came Here To Get S*** Done" Obama has chosen his pick for Interior Secretary: Colorado Democratic Senator Ken Salazar. Salazar. Salazar comes pre-packaged with experience directly related to the job, as he previously served as head of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources and made his name as a lawyer involved in water rights issues.

Salazar has also been highly critical of the Bush administration's plans to open up parts of public land in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah for oil-shale drilling. His appointment means that several high-profile energy development projects in the American West could get suspended or even shut down.

While by and large considered a friend to the environment, Salazar is considreed more of a centrist than potential nominee Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), a staunch defender of wildlands championed by many environmental groups.

As Secretary of the Interior, Salazar will oversee the National Park system, manage public lands, cover key decisions concerning usage on Bureau of Land Management land, and control the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The post was previously held by Dick Kempthorne and the notorious Gale Norton.

In the coming years, you can expect to see Salazar's name pop up in these pages a whole lot.

—Ted Alvarez

Obama picks Salazar as Interior secretary (LA Times)