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Ex-Iowa Gov. Vilsack picked for Secretary of Agriculture
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Agriculture Secretary-designate
and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.
(AP Photo)
Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is President-elect Barack Obama's pick for Secretary of Agriculture.
Vilsack, 58, is a strong proponent of developing ethanol and other biofuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil and combat global warming. He will play a major role in dealing with an ethanol industry asking for billions in federal aid in the economic stimulus bill, and will write rules to implement the new farm bill. Vilsack will be the third consecutive ex-governor of a farm state to hold the position, following former Govs. Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Ed Schafer of North Dakota.
As Iowa's first Democratic governor in 30 years, Vilsack was elected in 1998 and served two four-year terms, during which he established the Grow Iowa Values Fund, which offers grants for job creating initiatives. Shortly before leaving office in 2006, Vilsack entered the Democratic presidential race, but withdrew after three months. He then endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for the nomination and co-chaired her campaign. Vilsack is the fourth former rival of Obama for the nomination to receive a post in his administration, joining Vice-President-elect Joseph Biden, Secretary of State-designate Clinton and Secretary of Commerce-designate Bill Richardson.
Vilsack began his political career as mayor of Mount Pleasant, IA from 1987 to 1992. He was an Iowa state senator from 1993 to 1999. Since 2007, Vilsack has been of counsel in the Des Moines office of Minneapolis-based law firm Dorsey & Whitney.
A native of Pittsburgh, Vilsack received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College and a Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School. He is married and has two children.
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