NYC Housing Chief Named to Obama Cabinet

HUD secretary nominee served in Clinton administration

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 13, 2008 7:13 AM CST

(Newser) – President-elect Obama has chosen New York City housing commissioner Shaun Donovan as the next secretary of housing, the New York Times reports. Donovan, an expert on affordable housing, held senior posts in the Clinton Department of Housing and Urban Development before taking the New York job, for which he runs a $7.5 billion low- and moderate-income housing program. He was an Obama campaign adviser.

“Shaun Donovan has been one of the most effective housing commissioners in New York City’s history,” says New York Sen. Charles Schumer. “At this time, with the housing crisis raging, he is exactly the kind of person we need.” Says an analyst: “Shaun is knowledgeable about a broad range of housing policies in ways that unfortunately is very unusual.”

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President-elect Barack Obama gestures during a news conference in Chicago, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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I would never believe that the private sector, left to its own devices, is the best possible solution. I’m in government because of the role of government in setting rules and working in partnership with the private sector. - Shaun Donovan

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NYC Housing Chief Named to Obama Cabinet