(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on July 7, 2009.)
Yesterday, President Obama announced his intention to nominate Daniel Elliott III as Surface Transportation Board (STB) chairman.
The United Transportation Union’s (UTU) associate general counsel since 1993, Elliott would join Acting Chairman Frank Mulvey and Commissioner Charles Nottingham on the three-member board. He has represented the union in numerous proceedings before the STB, National Mediation Board, National Labor Relations Board and U.S. Department of Labor.
Prior to joining the UTU, Elliott was an attorney with a number of Cleveland and Washington, D.C., law firms.
The nomination will be considered soon at a Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing. If the committee votes in favor of Elliott, the nomination will move to the Senate floor.
Elliott is the second UTU official to be tabbed by the Obama Administration for a senior transportation post. Earlier this year, former UTU Illinois State Legislative Director Joe Szabo was nominated by Obama, and confirmed by the Senate, as federal railroad administrator.