Former two-time U.S. Senate candidate Tom Strickland was confirmed Thursday as the Interior Department’s assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, a job he’ll add to his current title as the department’s chief of staff.
The confirmation represents a breakthrough of sorts for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who has had confirmation of his key lieutenants delayed by Senate Republicans.
A hold on Strickland’s nomination by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., was removed Wednesday, and he was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, 89-2.
“I have worked closely with Tom for many years on natural resource initiatives and know that his vision, his experience, and his wisdom will be invaluable in the years ahead,” Salazar said in a release.
“I am hopeful that other presidential nominees for Interior leadership posts will soon be confirmed.”
A spokeswoman for Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, said he will continue to keep a hold on David Hayes, Barack Obama’s nominee for deputy Interior secretary. And on Thursday, Bennett put a hold on Hilary Tomkins, nominated to be the department’s solicitor.
