Chavez could replace Gov
in cabinet

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - While Gov. Bill Richardson may not be the next U.S. Commerce secretary, perhaps another New Mexican will.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, said it was asked by the President Elect's transition team to create a list of 10 Hispanics to fill the commerce secretary post, and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez is on the list.

LULAC said that Obama's transition team asked them to create a list for all of the cabinet posts.

On Sunday when the organization heard that Richardson had withdrawn his name, LULAC created a new list and sent it off to Washington.

Mayor Chavez is one of two U.S. mayors on the list. The other is Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

Other politicians named are former Secretary of Energy Federico Pena, former Equal Employment Opportunity Chairman Gilbert Casellas, New York Congressman Nydia Velasquez and California Congressman Javier Becerra.

The other names on the list include several people with corporate backgrounds like Antonio Perez of Eastman Kodak, Hector Ruiz of Advance Micro Devices, Paul Diaz of Kindred Healthcare and Jose Maria-Alapont of Federal Mogul.

News 13 contacted Chavez on Monday to get his reaction, but his spokesman said that "it's very flattering; however it's simply a rumor."

Although LULAC said it's no rumor, saying that Chavez's name is on the list. LULAC believes he has the experience a commerce secretary would need.

"We're looking at individuals with wide range of talents, and someone who's a mayor, who runs the city, who has a background in the business sector, is somebody that is qualified for this position," Lizette Jennes-Olmos of LULAC said.

Mayor Chavez's spokesperson told News13 that he has not been contacted by Obama's transition team or LULAC about the list.

LULAC also said Monday that they are confident Obama's team will strongly consider the candidates on their list because Obama has already nominated two of LULAC's choices to other cabinet posts.

Those nominations were Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.