The White House announced yesterday it nominated Ron Sims for the post.

Sims is the county executive of King County, Washington, which includes Seattle. As deputy, he will manage HUD’s day-to-day operations. HUD has a $39 billion operating budget and approximately 8,500 employees.

Donovan called Sims “the perfect deputy secretary candidate” saying:

His experience at the helm of a large urban government provides a critical perspective and his collaborative approach to problem-solving has prepared him to effectively lead HUD’s operations as the agency charts a new aggressive course.

Sims now faces Senate confirmation before he takes the post.

• Shaun Donovan to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
• Ray LaHood to be Secretary of Transportation.

In other confirmation news:

• Susan Rice, Obama’s choice for U.N. ambassador, was approved.
• Nancy Sutley was confirmed as chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
• And finally, Lisa Jackson was given the green light to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, after Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., lifted his objection to a vote by unanimous consent.