Nassif to Obama: Napolitano is excellent choice for DHS

Western Growers president Tom Nassif has written to president-elect Barack Obama, urging him to choose Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. In a release from Western Growers, Nassif is quoting writing Obama:

First, on behalf of Western Growers, let me once again congratulate you on your tremendous election victory. We look forward to working with your administration on behalf of our members who provide the majority of America’s fresh fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts – the best medicine in the world.

Secondly, I am writing to commend your consideration of Governor Janet Napolitano to serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As governor of a border state, Gov. Napolitano has an “on-the-ground,” practical understanding of immigration policy and border security. Indeed, over the years, Western Growers, whose members primarily operate in Arizona and California, has worked with the Governor on myriad immigration related policy issues including the Arizona employer sanctions law, port-of-entry improvements enhancing the flow of legal workers who commute daily from Mexico to our members’ fields here in the U.S., and streamlining of the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.

Moreover, Gov. Napolitano brings significant law enforcement experience from her stint as Arizona’s first female attorney general, experience that will serve your administration and this country very well in these precarious times. Finally, Gov. Napolitano possesses a moderate temperament that makes her an effective leader while fostering bipartisanship. In sum, I am certain that Gov. Napolitano will make an excellent Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and on behalf of our members I strongly encourage you to appoint her to this position in your cabinet.

Reports are circulating that Obama will indeed choose the Arizona governor.

Here is an article about Obama's strict vetting process for Cabinet appointees.

More coverage on Obama's Cabinet picks.