As President-elect Donald Trump works to determine who will round out the cabinet in the upcoming administration, predictions and speculation have been tossed around as to who will fill the highly sought after positions like Secretary of State. The updates regarding the position are endless. So much so, we’ve almost forgotten other important roles, like HUD Secretary, despite its potentially yuge impact on the future of the Trump economy.
While sources have favored Ben Carson for this role, there’s been no confirmation on his part that he will take it.
So here are five additional candidates who could fit the bill for the position.
Robert Woodson
The first potential pick, Robert Woodson, Sr., is the founder and president of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise in Washington, D.C.
According to the organization’s website, they are dedicated to “strengthening and advocating for those neighborhood-based organizations struggling to serve their communities.”
Woodson has a long history in the civil rights movement, even serving as the director of the National Urban League’s Administration of Justice in the 1970s. He has dedicated his life to improving the management and quality of public housing, crafting welfare reform measures, and reducing neighborhood and school violence.
Woodson has most recently served as an advisor to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).
Scott Brown
Former Senator Scott Brown was a very early supporter of Donald Trump and has a long history in real estate legislation that could come in handy for this role.
Recently, Brown hosted a benefit concert to support Make Room, an organization dedicated to bringing attention to America’s issues with rent affordability.
In an interview with Fox Business he spoke of his experience with housing issues, saying “by the time I turned 18, I had lived in 17 different homes. My mother suffered through a string of abusive relationships. Money was always a problem. Constant moves with new schools to attend and new friends to make were the norm. For my sister and me, the sense of stability and comfort that a home should provide was in very short supply.”
Sounds like the issue of affordable housing is deeply personal to Brown.
Blaine Luetkemeyer
Luetkemeyer currently serves as a member of the House Financial Services Committee and is subcommittee chairman of Housing and Insurance.
His work in housing issues is extensive. Prior to his career in Washington, Luetkemeyer held a career in banking and insurance as well as serving as a bank regulator in Missouri. The issue of housing is one dear to his heart, saying, “I have seen firsthand the important role that local financial institutions play in helping families realize the American dream.”
In Congress, he has been clear about his desire to modernize HUD and his fresh ideas could be very valuable to the Trump administration.
Bill Pulte
William (Bill) Pulte is on the Board of Pulte Homes, a Fortune 500 company and one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, and serves as the CEO of Pulte Capital Partners, an investment firm focused on housing and building products investments, where he oversees multiple operating companies in the housing and building products industries.
In addition to his executive management experience that would prepare him for the role as HUD Secretary, his charitable contributions are invaluable. As Chairman of the Detroit Blight Authority, Pulte led the team that helped engineer modern, large-scale blight removal in Detroit, Michigan and Pontiac, Michigan. The work cleared thousands of lots in some of the worst areas of these cities and has been nationally recognized by Forbes, CNBC, MSNBC, and the WSJ.
In the city of Pontiac alone, Mr. Pulte’s efforts led to a reduction of abandoned housing by over 50%, where property values subsequently rose by over 10%. Mr. Pulte was named “Michiganian of the Year” and Forbes “30 under 30” for his urban renewal work.
His wildly successful efforts should be model for the nation and it wouldn’t be surprising if President-elect Trump takes note.
Joseph Forgione
Joseph Forgione, who is a friend of Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law, Charles Kushner, is a licensed real estate broker and the founder and principal of JMF Properties Group in Whippany, New Jersey.
According to his biography on JMF’s website, Forgione has 20 years of real estate development experience
and has been “responsible for the construction of over 2,000 residential units as well as multiple commercial and retail spaces.”
In addition to his work with JMF, Forgione is a member of the New Jersey Civil Engineers and the New Jersey Builders Association.
Forgione has been hushed about the possible appointment.
