Thomas Perez, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Constitution, Civil Rights, Human Rights, and the Law Subcommittee on 'Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims' during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 29, 2011. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Two people familiar with the White House deliberations say President Barack Obama is poised to select Justice Department official Thomas Perez as the next labor secretary.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the official announcement has not yet been made.
Perez is head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and previously served as Maryland's labor secretary. He is expected to have solid support from organized labor and the Hispanic community, which is eager to have Hispanic representation in Obama's cabinet.
Perez was the first Latino elected to the Montgomery County Council in Maryland, where he served from 2002 to 2006.
If confirmed, he would replace Hilda Solis, who resigned in January to return to her native California.
The White House declined to comment.
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