About Tom Vilsack

Obama has selected former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, according to Democratic sources.

Mr. Vilsack will be the fourth former opponent of Obama in the 2008 Democratic primaries to join his new administration. Others include Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has been tapped for secretary of state, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, selected to head the Commerce Department.

First elected governor in 1998, Mr. Vilsack, 56, carved out a reputation as a political centrist. He balanced Iowa's budget and resisted raising taxes, but he was willing to spend money on such priorities as education and health. He argued that pushing alternative energy sources is key to bolstering rural sections of the nation that are struggling economically and with vanishing populations.

Agriculture pick Vilsack faces huge bureaucracy, learning curve - December 17, 2008 - WASHINGTON -- Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack will inherit a lumbering bureaucracy and have lots to learn about fruits and vegetables as the nation's next agriculture secretary.