Obama to nominate Charlotte Mayor Foxx as next Transportation secretary President Obama will nominate Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx on Monday to be his next secretary of Transportation, the White House said Sunday. "As mayor of one of America's most vibrant cities, Anthony Foxx knows firsthand that investing in world-class infrastructure is vital to creating good jobs and ensuring American businesses can grow and compete in the global economy," the White House said in a statement. As Charlotte mayor, Foxx, a Democrat, led efforts to improve the city's transit infrastructure. He was elected mayor in 2009 and was re-elected in 2011. Foxx was a member of the Charlotte City Council from 2005 to 2009. The former private-practice lawyer is a graduate of Davidson College and earned a law degree from New York University. Foxx is Obama's first black nominee among the new Cabinet members appointed for the second term. The president faced criticism early in his second term for a lack of diversity among his nominees. He will replace Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who said in January that he would not stay for a second Obama term. The official insisted on anonymity to avoid public discussion of the pick before the official announcement.