Congressman Ed Pastor under consideration for Secretary of Transportation?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

There was media speculation earlier this year that Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) was under consideration for Secretary of Interior in President Obama's second term cabinet. As usual, media speculation was wrong. President Obama nominated the CEO of REI, Sally Jewell, to replace departing Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

So with that word of caution, the latest media speculation is that the senior member of Arizona's congressional delegation, Congressman Ed Pastor (D-AZ), is under consideration for Secretary of Transportation. Ed Pastor’s name being mentioned as possible Transportation nominee:

U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor for Transportation secretary?

The veteran Arizona Democrat’s name has surfaced as a possible successor to Ray LaHood, who is resigning as President Barack Obama’s Transportation chief after four years. On Tuesday, Phoenix political consultant Paul Lopez tweeted that Pastor was on the “short list” for the Cabinet job. Pastor is the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

Pastor would only give a repeated “no comment.”

If the media wants to speculate, why stop there? Why not speculate as to who the leading contenders would be in a special election to replace Congressman Pastor should he be nominated and confirmed as Secretary of Transportation. Of course, we could always wait to see what actually happens.