"Another Arizonan, another possible Cabinet position.
For the red-state home of President-elect Barack Obama's former rival, such attention may be surprising.
Those unfamiliar with U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva's long record of accomplishment in southern Arizona may also be surprised that this Tucson resident wound up in contention for secretary of the Interior.
Don't be.
Grijalva, a Democrat, earned a reputation as a strong defender of the environment as a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, where he launched the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, a smart-growth approach cited as a national model.
As a member of the House since 2003, Grijalva has honed his environmental credentials.
No doubt his approach, like Obama's, would mark a change in direction. Last month, Grijalva criticized the Bush administration for engaging in a "concerted strategy" to reduce protection of the public lands. Grijalva listed more than 40 things done by federal land managers during the Bush administration that he believes harmed the public lands.
We might disagree on some counts.
But Grijalva clearly has an understanding of the issues facing Interior."
Get the Story:Editorial: Spotlight on Grijalva (The Arizona Republic 11/25 Related Stories:
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