The Washington Post reports that Secretary LaHood is looking for a broader list of candidates for the position of FAA Administrator.
The top two candidates had been thought to be Robert Herbert and Captain Duane Woerth.
Woerth is a pilot who has flown for both Northwest and Branniff and a former president of the Air Line Pilots Association. Having served as AFL-CIO Vice president, he has AFL-CIO backing and he also has experience in working closely with air carrier management.
Herbet is a a longtime aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Ried (D-Nev.). He advises the Senator on transportation, defense and homeland security issues, so at least he has studied the issues. He would bring experience in working with Congress, which is an important feature of the Administrator’s job.
Rumor is that neither man has impressed the Obama team.
The news that Secretary LaHood is looking for other candidates may suggest that neither Herbert nor Woerth will become Administrator. And if either one eventually does win the position, that may suggest that none of the candidates who could have inspired the Obama Team were willing to take on this tough and often thankless job.