Bishop cited for agriculture post

Washington —- Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop is a contender to become secretary of agriculture, close observers of farm issues said Friday.

The Albany Democrat, in an interview, termed the reports “rumors,” but said he would welcome being on the short list for President-elect Barack Obama’s cabinet.

“Certainly I would be honored to serve if I were asked,” said Bishop, who just won re-election to a ninth term in a district that is heavily dependent on the farm economy.

Bishop’s name surfaced this week in Agri-Pulse, an online newsletter that quoted “sources close” to the transition effort.

Bishop noted that he has served on the House Agriculture Committee and as of 2006 has sat on the appropriation subcommittee that oversees agriculture programs. He added that he represents “one of the largest and most diverse agricultural districts in the country.”

The possibility of having a Georgian heading the Agriculture Department would be a plus for the state’s farm community, said Lindsay Mabry, spokeswoman for Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

Chambliss, who chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee before Democrats won control of Congress in 2006, and Bishop “are obviously very good friends and they’ve worked extensively together on agriculture issues,” Mabry said.

Bishop served as Georgia co-chairman for the Obama presidential campaign. Also considered a contender for the agriculture job is Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo.), who told the Denver Post that he was under consideration.

A moderate, Bishop has a voting record that is among the most conservative in the Congressional Black Caucus.