AASHTO Journal, 14 October 2011
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday he won’t stay on for a second term if President Barack Obama wins re-election next year.LaHood’s retirement was first reported by the Chicago Tribune, which interviewed the secretary after he spoke to a luncheon Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington. LaHood told the Tribune that he expects “there will be some wonderful opportunities” for him in the private sector when he leaves government.
In a statement released later Thursday, LaHood said he has been honored to “look out for the safety of the American public when it comes to planes, trains, automobiles, and more. Throughout this term, we have also focused our efforts on creating jobs as we rebuild our roads, rails, and runways, and I look forward to working with Congress to pass the American Jobs Act so we can put Americans back to work.”
Before Obama selected LaHood in early 2009 to serve as transportation secretary, he was a Republican representative from Illinois for 14 years until retiring from the House in 2008.
A video of LaHood’s speech to the National Press Club is available at bit.ly/LaHood101311.
