President Bush Nominates Mary Peters to head Transportation Department

Published Sep 7, 2006 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

At the White House on Tuesday, President Bush announced his selection to succeed Norman Mineta as Transportation Secretary. Calling Mary Peters “the right person for this job,” the president announced the nomination just as the Senate returned from its summer recess. He urged the Senate to confirm her nomination in a speedy fashion. Peters brings a fair amount of transportation experience to the job, both in the private and the public sectors. She previously served as head of the Federal Highway Administration from 2001 to 2005 and since November of last year, she was national director for transportation policy and consulting in the Phoenix office of an Omaha-based architectural, engineering and consulting firm. Prior to that, Peters directed the Arizona Department of Transportation, culminating a 16-year career there. Peters, if confirmed, could bring significant transportation management experience to the job, but her positions on maritime issues are not yet altogether clear. She has, in the past, expressed firm opinions on how to fund highway projects, but how the often-neglected maritime component of the US transportation system would fare under her supervision remains unclear. Also new to Washington and the Senate confirmation process is Sean Connaughton, MARAD’s new administrator. Connaughton of Triangle, VA, was sworn in yesterday as Maritime Administrator by Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino in a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters. If Peters is confirmed, Connaughton could have his work cut out for him as he tries to ensure that MARAD gets its fair share of funding.