Obama Gives Sanchez a Recess Appointment

Frank Sanchez received a recess appointment from President Barack Obama to become Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade this weekend.

Sanchez has been active in politics for the better part of 25 years at both the state and national levels. He ran for mayor of Tampa against Pam Iorio in 2003 and lost. He also served as an aide to Lt. Gov. Wayne Mixson. Sanchez was also a special assistant to President Bill Clinton focusing on Latin American affairs and he later served in the Clinton administration as the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs. He also served on the Obama campaign reaching out to Hispanic voters.

Sanchez's appointment had been in limbo for a year. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, blocked Sanchez's nominationdue to an federal investigation of how, in 2005, the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, a non-profit organization with Sanchez on the board, loaned federal grant money to Renaissance Steel. Sanchez served as the president of Renaissance Steel. While there have been no charges filed, Grassley felt the investigation justified placing Sanchez's nomination on hold.

While he still needs to be confirmed by the Senate, the recess appointment allows Sanchez to stay at the post until 2011.