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Possibilities Being Named For Ag Secretary

published: November 14th 2008
by: Chris Clayton
source: DTN News Wire

OMAHA (DTN) – Speculation about possible cabinet secretaries began before voters went to the polls and several names came up for Agriculture Secretary in President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet.

Major names being mentioned, often more than once, include the following.

Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union. Since the passage of the farm bill, he has worked as much as anybody to implement country-of-origin labeling by reaching out to major packers. He played a significant role in several major changes in the farm bill, including the addition of a permanent disaster program. Buis is widely popular and formerly worked for Tom Daschle in the Senate. Daschle is one of Obama’s top advisors and considered as a possible White House chief of staff. Buis, by the way, says the idea of him being ag secretary is much like the high commodity prices earlier this year, “a lot of speculation.”

Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa. Vilsack worked aggressively on renewable energy as governor and the bio-economy. One of Obama’s top campaign strategists, David Axelrod, also ran Vilsack’s 1998 gubernatorial campaign.

Marshall Matz, Obama’s top agricultural advisor. Matz is not as widely known in traditional agricultural circles as some others on this list, but he is principal for Olsson, Frank, Weeda, Terman, Bode and Matz, one of the top agricultural lobbying firms in Washington. According to Congressional Quarterly, Matz is a nutrition expert who has been heavily involved in anti-hunger efforts. He also served as special counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Charles Stenholm, former top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee. He too works for Olsson, Frank & Weeda and has remained heavily involved in agricultural lobbying. The former Texas congressman was one of the leaders in getting the 2002 farm bill completed. Stenholm has been lobbying, however, against restrictions on horse slaughter and could be attacked by animal-rights groups on that issue if nominated.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-MN. Peterson said recently in St. Paul, MN, that the Obama camp was focusing on diversity in possible cabinet secretaries. Peterson suggested names to look out for would be Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, South Dakota’s lone representative in Congress.

Rep. John Salazar of Colorado also would be a possibility, Peterson said.