Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva

Grijalva, 60, is a Tucson native and son of an immigrant Mexican farm worker. He served as Hispanic co-chair for Obama's presidential campaign and has been a fierce critic of the Bush administration's environmental policies. He serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and chairs the national parks, forests and public lands subcommittee.

The Interior secretary traditionally comes from a Western state, where management of public lands is a key issue. The Interior Department manages about 500 million acres of federal land, or one-fifth of the United States. The administration post also serves as a steward for the nation's Indian reservations.

On Friday, the Washington Post and the political Web site politico.com said Grijalva is a top contender for the post. Both cited transition officials as sources.

Grijalva could not be reached Friday, but spokeswoman Natalie Luna said the congressman has not received any word from Barack Obama's transition team.

"He said he hasn't been contacted," Luna said, adding, "I think he would give it really good thought."

Luna said her boss has a "good rapport" with the president-elect. "I think Obama knows the congressman's background, what he's interested in and passionate about," she added.

Last month, Grijalva issued a scathing report titled "The Bush Administration's Assaults on Our National Parks, Forests and Public Lands." The 23-page critique accuses the president of carrying out "a concerted strategy" of reducing protections for federal properties, "opening up these lands for every type of private, commercial and extractive industry possible."

If appointed, Grijalva would be the third Interior secretary from Arizona, following in the footsteps of Stewart Udall (1961-69) and Bruce Babbitt (1993-2001). The governor would have to call a special election to fill his congressional seat.

Environmental leaders were thrilled at the prospect of Grijalva assuming the secretariat. Mining, ranching and other land-use industry representatives expressed dismay.

"Talk about a 180 from where we are today," said Richard Mayol, communications director at the Grand Canyon Trust. "That is certainly something that we would love to get behind, something we would cheer."

Grijalva, serving his third term in Congressional District 7, was a Tucson schools trustee in the 1970s and '80s and then served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors from 1988 to 2002.

Sandy Bahr, conservation director for the Sierra Club in Arizona, praised Grijalva's efforts to ban uranium mining near the Grand Canyon.

"Obviously, he knows the West and the importance of public lands," Bahr said. "Arizona has been well-served by him, particularly on the kinds of issues that the Department of Interior addresses."