Federico Peña facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Federico Peña
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| 8th United States Secretary of Energy | |
| In office March 12, 1997 – June 30, 1998 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Hazel R. O'Leary |
| Succeeded by | Bill Richardson |
| 12th United States Secretary of Transportation | |
| In office January 21, 1993 – February 14, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Andrew Card |
| Succeeded by | Rodney E. Slater |
| 41st Mayor of Denver | |
| In office July 2, 1983 – July 15, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | William H. McNichols Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Wellington Webb |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office January 10, 1979 – July 2, 1983 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Federico Fabian Peña
March 15, 1947 Laredo, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BA, JD) |
Federico Fabian Peña (born March 15, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer. He held important roles in the United States government. He served as the 12th Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997. Later, he was the 8th Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 1998. Both of these jobs were during the time Bill Clinton was president. Before that, he was the 41st mayor of Denver from 1983 to 1991.
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Early Life and Education
Federico Peña was born in Laredo, Texas. He went to the University of Texas at Austin. There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969. He then studied law at the University of Texas School of Law. He received his law degree in 1972.
Political Career
After finishing his education, Peña moved to Colorado. He started working as a lawyer there. His political journey began when he was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1979. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He quickly became the leader of the minority party in the House.
Mayor of Denver
In 1983, Federico Peña ran for mayor of Denver. He won the election, beating the current mayor, William H. McNichols Jr. This made him the first Hispanic mayor of Denver. He was re-elected for a second term in 1987.
During his time as mayor, Peña helped bring the Colorado Rockies baseball team to Denver. This was a big achievement for the city. He also had a vision for Denver called "Imagine a Great City." This vision led to many improvements. These included a new convention center and a modernized Cherry Creek Shopping Center. He also helped expand the library and performing arts center.
Serving in the Clinton Administration
Federico Peña advised Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton on transportation. This was during Clinton's time becoming president. After Clinton became president, he chose Peña to lead the United States Department of Transportation. This is a very important role.
Peña had planned to leave the president's team after one term. However, he was asked to stay and serve as United States Secretary of Energy. He held this position from 1997 to 1998. In this role, he managed a large organization. It had 16,000 employees and a budget of $18 billion. He also helped create a national energy plan for the Clinton administration.
One major project he oversaw was the sale of the Elk Hills Oil Field. This was a huge sale, bringing in $3.654 billion. It was the largest sale of government property in U.S. history. He also supported U.S. energy companies investing around the world.
Later Career and Public Service
After leaving the Clinton administration, Federico Peña returned to Denver. In 1998, he joined a private company called Vestar Capital Partners. He works there as a senior advisor.
A major road in Denver is named after him: Peña Boulevard. This freeway connects Denver International Airport to Interstate 70. As mayor, Peña was a key leader in the effort to build this airport.
Federico Peña has three children: Nelia, Cristina, and Ryan. He later married Cindy Velasquez in 2006. Cindy Velasquez worked as a broadcast executive in Denver.
Peña has continued to be involved in public service. He has served on several company boards. He is also part of many groups that do good work for the community. In 2007, he supported Barack Obama in his presidential campaign. He even served as a national co-chair for Obama's campaign. Later, he was appointed to the advisory board for the Obama-Biden transition team.
In 2011, Peña was elected to the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo. In 2015, he joined the Board of Trustees for the University of Denver.
