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CEO OF Santa Barbara County Based Fast Food Giant Tapped To Become New Labor Secretary

The CEO of a fast food giant based in Santa Barbara County may be America’s next Secretary of Labor.

President-elect Donald Trump announced that he’s selected CKE Executive Andrew Puzder as his nominee for the cabinet post.

Puzder has headed the parent company of Carl’s Junior and Hardee’s since the year 2000. CKE has been based in Carpinteria, but earlier this year announced plans to move its headquarters from Santa Barbara County to Nashville. Puzder has been critical of California’s business climate, saying its higher taxes, and increases in minimum wage have made it a tough place to do business. In his blog, he’s said the economy would do better if government regulators backed off from their current stance.

Labor groups have been critical of the choice, saying Puzder would favor business interests over the welfare of workers.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.