Former Denver Mayor and Former Clinton Official Federico Pena to Join Obama Campaign

[Colobo]

DENVER – Federico Pena has agreed to serve as national campaign co-chair for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.


Pena, who was elected Denver's first Hispanic mayor in 1983, is credited with cleaning up the city's pollution and social programs.

President Clinton named Pena the head of the Department of Transportation in 1993. Pena served as the Secretary of Energy in 1997.

During a conference call Friday, Pena said he decided to work for Obama because he says Obama provides a "creative perspective."

"After speaking to Senator Obama a number of times, I concluded that (he was) the person who had the best set of skills in doing two fundamental things: number one, unifying our country and two, the ability to look at domestic and world problems (with) a very creative perspective, unencumbered by any past political ideologies," Pena said.

Pena says he believes the Hispanic vote will play a large role in the 2008 presidential election.

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