Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is backing Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) to be secretary of the Department of Interior in the Obama administration.

“As a member of the Committee on Natural Resources, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, Raul is well versed in the many pressing issues facing the Interior Department,” Rahall wrote in a letter to President-elect Obama late Wednesday.

“He has consistently displayed leadership in advancing legislation to improve our natural environment and to restore balance in the management of the nation’s natural resources. However, Raul’s expertise is not limited to those jurisdictional areas of the Interior Department. He has immersed himself in matters affecting Indian country, and has been instrumental in dealing with issues involving the territorial possessions of the United States. In brief, I can describe Raul’s philosophy on Interior issues with two words: good stewardship.”

Grijalva represents District 7 in Arizona, which borders Mexico and includes a number of Native American tribes.

Several former and existing western governors and former Clinton-era officials are topping the list of candidates being mentioned for Interior secretary as well (see Daily GPI, Dec. 3). Names being tossed around include former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles and Wyoming Gov. David Freudenthal.

Other figures believed to be in the running are Rep. Mike Thompson of California, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate Democrats; and Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), who also sits on the House natural resources panel.

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