More Appointments Coming

Seattle business and political leaders "launched a last- minute effort" to save Seattle Mayor Norm Rice's bid to become HUD Sec. But with Clinton "expected" to name Asst. HUD Sec. Andrew Cuomo to the post "as early as tomorrow," the efforts "may be too late."

Seattle officials attempted to defend Rice, whose Cabinet bid was "damaged" by a HUD investigation into charges, lodged by local homeless activists, that Rice's admin. misrepresented crime statistics on an application for a low-rate HUD loan for a downtown building. Rudy McCoy, a community activist and former GOP cand. for office: "I'm not a Rice supporter, but he's getting the shaft." Developer Matt Griffin: "No good deed goes unpunished. [Rice] has done a great job on [downtown development] and deserves support for it. We're lucky to have that leadership."

Other business and pol. leaders began "rallying to Rice's defense." Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA): "Norm is an honest, hard-working man and he deserves better than this. I called the White House today and told them that, and let them know I wanted it fixed."

Local support, however, "may be coming to late, because the HUD appointment is said to be imminent." Senior WH aides, however, cautioned that Cuomo's selection "was firmer in the minds of his own backers than in the president's" (Conklin/Boren, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 12/19).

Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton said she is on a "short list" of candidates for HUD: "I think it has been affirmed that I am on a list, and I am a possible candidate for a Cabinet post," Belton said in an interview after joining a dozen mayors at a WH meeting with Clinton and VP Gore to discuss the next federal budget's impact on cities.

Belton said she was called 12/13 by incoming CoS Erskine Bowles to discuss the HUD post. A person "familiar with the selection process" lists the other "finalists" as: Cuomo, Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson and Rep. Esteban Torres (D-CA). Asked about Belton for HUD, Clinton said only, "She is a good person." Belton "might have an edge" over others because "her appointment would heighten the Cabinet's racial diversity" (Hamburger, Minn. STAR TRIBUNE, 12/19).

Officials said Pres. Clinton "seemed headed toward selecting" Rep. Esteban Torres (D-CA) as a compromise candidate for Labor Sec. Federal Highway Administrator Rodney Slater remains an "almost certain choice" for Transportation and Federal Energy Regulatory Commis. chair Elizabeth Moler "is expected to be named Energy Secretary."

However, senior WH aides, as usual, cautioned that "all such choices were subject to change." At Labor, Torres would "break the deadlock" between those supporting WH dir. of public liaison Alexis Herman and those backing AmeriCorps dir. Harris Wofford (Purdum, N.Y. TIMES, 12/19).