Yesterday, President Obama announced that Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx as his pick for Secretary of Transportation. Foxx would replace current Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.
Foxx was elected as mayor of Charlotte in 2009 at the age of 38, making him the youngest mayor in Charlotte’s history.
Foxx focused a lot of his time and efforts on transportation. He pushed for street cars and a light rail extension. He supported widening the interstate from six to eight lanes and he supported the expansion of the international airport.
The investment Foxx and the city of Charlotte made in transportation, was an investment in the city’s economy, as the projects created more jobs and revenue for the city.
In his nomination speech, President Obama said that Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx “will make him an outstanding Transportation Secretary. He’s got the respect of his peers, mayors and governors all across the country,” President Obama said.
“One of the things that Ray taught me in watching him do his job is that establishing personal relationships with mayors and governors and county executives makes all the difference in the world, because transportation is one of those things that — it’s happening on the ground.”
President Obama acknowledged LaHood‘s contribution to the cabinet, saying LaHood was the “best Secretary of Transportation that this nation’s ever had.”
“From the day that he was sworn in, Ray has fought tirelessly to rebuild America’s infrastructure — creating good jobs that strengthen our economy and allow us to better compete in the global economy. Over the past four years, thanks to Ray’s leadership, we’ve built or improved more than 350,000 miles of road — enough to circle the world more than 14 times. We’ve upgraded more than 6,000 miles of rail -– enough to go coast to coast and back. We’ve repaired or replaced more than 20,000 bridges, and helped put tens of thousands of construction workers back on the job. And that’s all due in no small part to Ray LaHood‘s leadership,” President Obama added.