Former Colorado Congressman Bob Beauprez is being considered for a position in Donald Trump's administration as Interior secretary, according to The Denver Post.
"I'd love to do it if given the opportunity," the former two-term Republican congressman said. The position supervises Indian affairs and oversees federal lands, including national parks. A half-dozen Republicans, including Beauprez, are in the running, reports the Post.
The farmer and bison rancher owns a 1,300-acre ranch in Jackson County, Colorado. He said that if he gets the job, he would bring to it a "sense of bonding with the land and stewardship of God's creation — I take that very, very seriously."
"I've always thought farmers and ranchers were the original conservationists and it's that kind of attitude and respect for environment that I would want to take to the office," Beauprez said, notes the Post.
Other candidates being considered include Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, who met with the president-elect on Monday.
Beauprez, who also ran unsuccessfully for Colorado governor twice, has sent in his resume and talked with Trump's transition team, but has not yet met with the incoming president, according to the Post.
Kent Holsinger, a Colorado natural resources attorney, praised the possibility of Beauprez getting the job. "I just think he'd be in fine choice because he has a good sense of western values," Holsinger said, the Post notes.
Some environmentalists have criticized Trump's list of candidates for the Interior position. Conservation Colorado director Pete Maysmith said, "I think he's far too extreme to be appointed as the steward of our national parks and our western cultural heritage
Maysmith said Beauprez does not have an "inspiring record," he supported energy exploration on public lands and in 2009, wrote a book in which he questioned climate change, the Post reports.
Beauprez favors a middle-of-the-road approach "where we can actually use the resources that we are blessed with, but use them wisely."
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