LAKE COUNTY — Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) facilitated a visit to the North Coast with United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Wednesday and Thursday.
Thompson brought LaHood out to the district to tour transportation projects in West Sacramento and Napa.
Thompson held a breakfast with LaHood and 15 other transportation officials from around the district, including Phil Dow, a transportation consultant for Northwestern California.
Lake County Administrator Kelly Cox and Lake County Director of Public Works Scott De Leon attended the breakfast.
Cox said he was honored to attend and appreciated the opportunity.
“He (LaHood) seemed genuinely concerned about the challenges associated with maintaining the roads in Lake County,” Cox said. “I expressed appreciation for federal stimulus money we”ve received. It was put to good use. I told him we would like to receive some more.”
“He (LaHood) met a number of very impressive people who work really hard to improve the transportation systems in our district,” Thompson said on Friday.
Thompson said LaHood has a deep understanding of rural communities.
“In Congress he represented 20 rural counties,” Thompson said. “He was receptive to the ideas that were presented to him during the visit.”
De Leon said the priority in Lake County is to try to get federal funding that the county can use at its discretion for the maintenance of existing facilities.
“The priorities of rural counties differ greatly from urban areas. Money needs to be made available to local agencies to be used in maintaining existing roads, so we can apply surface treatment and crack and chip seal to prolong the life of the roads,” De Leon said. “I walked out of there feeling that he (LaHood) acknowledges and understands the needs of smaller rural communities. He was attentive. It is important to recognize Mike Thompson for bringing LaHood to our region and giving us the opportunity to share needs and concerns with someone from Washington.”
LaHood became the 16th Secretary of Transportation on Jan. 23, 2009. When nominating him, then President-elect Obama said, “Few understand our infrastructure challenge better than the outstanding public servant that I”m asking to lead the Department of Transportation.”
LaHood”s primary goals for transportation include safety across all modes, restoring economic health and creating jobs, sustainability, shaping the economy of the coming decades by building new transportation infrastructure and assuring that transportation policies focus on people who use the transportation system and their communities.
Thompson said a partnership of different levels of government would be instrumental in improving infrastructure, helping business and creating jobs in areas such as construction, engineering, growth and the private sector.
As Secretary of Transportation, LaHood leads an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions.
Before becoming Secretary of Transportation, LaHood served for 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 18th District of Illinois.
During that time he served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and after that, on the House Appropriations Committee. Prior to his election to the House, he served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Robert Michel, whom he succeeded in representing the 18th District and as District Administrative Assistant to Congressman Thomas Railsback. He also served in the Illinois State Legislature. Before his career in government, LaHood was a junior high school teacher.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
