Federico Peña accepted a high-profile award for being a visionary Tuesday and hours later showed why when he took the stage at the Democratic National Convention.
The former Denver mayor hammered energy issues from the podium, emphasizing the need to change how it is both created and used.
“America is on a liquid leash, a leash that’s choking our paychecks and the prosperity of our nation,” he said.
He asked the delegates and those watching to believe the country can wean itself off foreign oil and create millions of jobs in green industries.
“We can develop our own energy sources,” he said. “With Barack Obama as our president, a president who has challenged us to believe in ourselves, we will get the change we need. We will transform our future and power this country for generations to come.”
Peña decided to support Obama for president early on, even though he had served in former President Clinton’s Cabinet. When he signed on as Obama’s national campaign co-chair, he took some heat from other Latinos who favored Hillary Rodham Clinton.
That move exemplifies Peña’s “vision,” said Mickey Ibarra, founder of the Latino Leaders Network, which awarded Peña the Nambe Eagle Leadership Award in front of nearly 700 people. The award is given for outstanding service to the Latino community, Ibarra said. Peña was selected to receive the award last fall, long before it was known Obama would be the nominee.
“I felt so strongly that he was worthy to be honored in his own right, never realizing at the time that Federico would demonstrate again his vision with his early support of Obama,” Ibarra said. “It took leadership. Federico felt strongly that Obama was the right choice.”
Peña served as secretary of transportation from 1993 to 1997 and as energy secretary from 1997 to 1998.
Peña said he challenges anyone with doubts that progress can be made to check out Colorado, Pennsylvania and New Mexico — all states with Democratic governors who have a green agenda.
Despite his high profile and history in government, Peña said he has no aspirations for a political position beyond getting Barack Obama elected.
He returned to Denver in 1998 after serving Clinton because he wanted to spend more time with his children, he said.
Nearly a decade later — and just two years since he re-emerged on the public scene with a rousing speech at the May 1, 2006, immigration rallies — many have speculated about his future in politics.
But Peña wants to dispel that idea.
“I’ve been very clear that my focus is just getting him elected,” Pena said. “I have no interest in getting a government position.”
