In Transition

Once considered a bit of a dark horse candidate for Transportation Secretary, Ron Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas, has risen to the top of the list.

Though Kirk is not a sure thing, time is ticking down on a self-imposed Christmas Day deadline for Obama to have his Cabinet in place. Some transportation lobbyists and Democratic Senate aides confirmed that Kirk appears to be at the top of the short list for the job, although nothing is set in stone.

Late last week Kirk confirmed that he is being vetted by the transition team for a position in Obama’s Cabinet, but has not said which one. Aides said in addition to Transportation Secretary, Kirk is also being considered for U.S. Trade Representative.

Kirk, an early Obama supporter, served as Texas secretary of state under Democratic Gov. Ann Richards, and as an aide to the late Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas. Kirk was elected in 1995 as the first African-American mayor of Dallas. He resigned in 2005 to make an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate, losing to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. He is currently a partner at Vinson & Elkins, a powerful Texas law firm.

Also on the short list for DOT secretary are Steve Heminger, executive director of the San Francisco Bay area’s transportation commission; and Jane Garvey, former head of the Federal Aviation Administration.