Obama fills another position at Interior Department

Politics

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Michael L. Connor, President Barack Obama's nominee for Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

President Barack Obama announced another Interior Department nominee on Wednesday and his pick for Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation comes with significant experience in Indian issues.

Michael L. Connor, an attorney, has served as counsel to Democrats on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee since 2001. In the post, he handled all Indian issues for the committee, with a focus on Indian water rights settlements.

From 1993 to 2001, Connor worked for Interior, starting off in the Office of the Solicitor. From there, he went on to serve as deputy director and then director of the Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Office, which represented the department in Indian water rights negotiations.

“With growing water challenges facing communities across the country, Mike Connor’s deep background in water, Indian rights and energy issues will help us find common sense solutions,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “Mike has a proven track record of building consensus with a wide range of stakeholders and is the right pick for Commissioner. I look forward to working with him to ensure that we are wisely managing our nation’s precious water resources.”

Connor is the third Interior nominee that Obama has announced. He is expected to name Larry EchoHawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, as assistant secretary for Indian affairs, and Hilary Tompkins, a member of the Navajo Nation, as Solicitor of the Interior.

According to the law firm Steptoe and Johnson, the list of possible Interior nominees includes Gerald Danforth, the former chairman of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, for a post at the National Indian Gaming Commission. Danforth testified before the House Natural Resources Committee yesterday on federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Get the Story:
Press Release: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts (White House 3/18)
Press Release: Secretary Salazar Commends President Obama’s Intention to Nominate Michael L. Connor to Lead the Bureau of Reclamation (DOI 3/18)