Charlotte Mayor Is Chosen as Transportation Chief President Obama alongside Anthony R. Foxx on Monday. If confirmed, Mr. Foxx would add to the diversity of Mr. Obama's cabinet after criticism that the president had not done enough to recruit advisers from diverse backgrounds. WASHINGTON - President Obama announced on Monday that he would nominate Anthony R. Foxx, a Democrat and the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., to be the next transportation secretary, saying Mr. Foxx's local government experience would help him manage the nation's roads, bridges and airports. Flanked by Mr. Foxx and Ray LaHood, the departing secretary, Mr. Obama said Mr. Foxx was "one of the best mayors that Charlotte has ever seen" and "an impressive leader." The president also used the opportunity to prod Congress to provide billions of dollars for improving the nation's transportation infrastructure. He said the administration's top priority was strengthening the economy and providing more jobs for people. "One of the best ways we can do that is to put more Americans back to work rebuilding our infrastructure," Mr. Obama said. Mr. Foxx praised the president and Mr. LaHood, saying they had earned "the admiration and appreciation of America's mayors." He vowed to seek bipartisan solutions to transportation problems. "There is no such thing as a Democratic or a Republican road, bridge, port, airfield or rail station," said Mr. Foxx, who turns 42 on Tuesday. We must work together, across party lines, to enhance this nation's infrastructure. The audience for the event included Mr. Foxx's grandmother. Mr. Obama said during his remarks that she had told him she worked in the White House during the administration of President Harry S. Truman in the 1940s and "50s. Mr. Foxx, who is black, would add to the diversity of Mr. Obama's cabinet after criticism that the president had not done enough to recruit advisers from a variety of backgrounds. He would join a cabinet that also includes Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. and Susan E. Rice, the ambassador to the United Nations, both of whom are black. Robert L. Darbelnet, the president of the AAA, said in a statement that he was encouraged by the selection of Mr. Foxx. "We look forward to working with Mayor Foxx once confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and we are hopeful that he will help make transportation a top national priority," Mr. Darbelnet said. Three weeks ago, Mr. Foxx announced that he would not seek re-election as mayor this year because he wanted to spend more time with his family, including two children who were born after he joined the Charlotte City Council in 2005. Mr. Foxx was the first black student body president at Davidson College and earned a law degree from New York University. While Mr. Foxx does not have a transportation background, he worked as mayor to extend a light-rail line, open another runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, complete a major highway widening, improve a major bridge and bring streetcars back to Charlotte.