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For the President, an Arrival . . .
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Peters, 57, is married and has three grown children. She was considering a run for Arizona's governorship last year but bowed out after questions were raised about her eligibility because she had lived in Virginia during Bush's first term. Before taking the federal highway post, she had served three years as Arizona's top transportation official.
Bush nominated Peters to replace Norman Y. Mineta, the lone Democrat in his Cabinet. Mineta was credited with helping create the Transportation Security Administration in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Administration officials said Peters worked closely with Mineta to craft a $268 billion highway bill that won passage last year. Although the legislation has been criticized for including thousands of pet projects for lawmakers, the Bush administration has said it will prove crucial in fixing the nation's highways and alleviating congestion.
Maria Cino, the department's No. 2 official, has been serving as acting secretary since Mineta stepped down in July.
Cino and Marion C. Blakey, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, were among the leading contenders to replace Mineta.
Rodney E. Slater, who was transportation secretary under President Bill Clinton, said Peters is a solid choice because she had served as a state highway official, giving her valuable experience in addressing local traffic woes. "That is something that will bode well for her," Slater said. "She is going to have good relations with other [transportation officials] outside of Washington. That is always a plus."
He noted that Peters will have to educate herself quickly on the challenges facing the aviation industry because most of her experience is in highways.
That did not give pause to James C. May, president of the Air Transport Association, a trade group that represents U.S. airlines. "We're very high on this choice," he said.
"She is a fine administrator and, I think, will bring the kinds of mental and policy skills to the job that few others who were in the running have," May added.
