5. Ken Salazar (D) - Secretary, Department of Interior U.S. Senator, Colorado Former Attorney General, Colorado Nominated: December 17, 2008 Obama’s comments: “It’s time for a new kind of leadership in Washington that’s committed to using our lands in a responsible way to benefit all our families. That means ensuring that even as we are promoting development where it makes sense, we are also fulfilling our obligation to protect our national treasures. It means ensuring that we are using our farmlands not only to strengthen our agricultural economy, but to grow advanced biofuels that will help make the United States energy independent and create jobs. That is the kind of leadership embodied by Ken Salazar and Tom Vilsack, and I look forward to working with them in the years ahead.” Others’ comments: “Pam Kiely, program director at Environment Colorado, said Mr. Salazar had been a champion of wilderness protection and strong water quality laws and a skeptic on oil shale development, a subject of controversy in the Mountain West. Ms. Kiely said she was unsure of his views on drilling in millions of acres of national forests and roadless areas. “‘We hope he continues to play a role in ensuring that as we develop our mineral rights in these incredibly sensitive areas we require industry to put in place safeguards that protect our health, environment, water and air quality,’ Ms. Kiely said.“Oil and mining interests praised Mr. Salazar’s record as a state official and as a senator, saying that he was not doctrinaire about the use of public lands for resource exploitation. “Marc Smith, executive director of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States, said in a statement that Mr. Salazar understood that energy security could be achieved only by making use of all domestic energy sources, including those found on and under public lands.“‘We are pleased that the president-elect has chosen someone who understands that there is a direct connection between federal lands and access to affordable, clean natural gas,’ Mr. Smith said. “While industry officials praised his moderation, Mr. Salazar drew strong criticism from some environmentalists. “‘He is a right-of-center Democrat who often favors industry and big agricultural interests in battles over global warming, fuel efficiency and endangered species,’ said Kieran Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, which tracks endangered species and habitat issues. “Daniel R. Patterson, a former official of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management and now southwest regional director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, described Mr. Salazar as the most controversial of Mr. Obama’s cabinet appointees. “‘Salazar has a disturbingly weak conservation record, particularly on energy development, global warming, endangered wildlife and protecting scientific integrity,’ said Mr. Patterson, who was elected last month to the Arizona House of Representatives from Tucson. ‘It’s no surprise oil and gas, mining, agribusiness and other polluting industries that have dominated Interior are supporting rancher Salazar—he’s their friend.’” —The New York Times Approved: January 20, 2009 Sworn in: February 6, 2009 Challenges: “Even as Mr. Salazar navigates the department’s tricky political crosscurrents, he must also deal with calls to reverse dozens of decisions made in the Bush administration on endangered species and oil and gas leasing. “As he deals with climate change, land and water issues, protection of endangered species and relations with American Indian tribes, Mr. Salazar will also have to try to manage an agency demoralized by years of scandal, political interference and mismanagement.” —The New York Times Appointment Impact: New U.S. Senator appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D): Former Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet