Donald Trump’s Secretary of the Interior and sometime Santa Barbara resident Ryan Zinke confirmed what many have long considered a foregone conclusion by announcing his intention to resign by the year’s end. Zinke, a brash and outspoken proponent of the United States’ “global energy dominance” has found himself dogged by multiple investigations into potential ethical violations. While none of those investigations have yet to unearth a smoking gun, the number and intensity of such inquiries would increase dramatically when the new Democratic majority takes control of Congress.
Some of the ethical violations involve federal security details assigned to protect Zinke and his wife, Lola — born and bred in Santa Barbara — on family vacations. Others appear more troubling, such as the conflict of interest concerns raised about Zinke’s real estate partnership in a large development deal with the head of the Halliburton energy company in his home state of Montana. As Interior Secretary, Zinke has say over the mineral rights extracted from any of the 500 million acres of federally owned land his department oversees. Halliburton, as one of the nation’s largest oil-extraction supply companies, might stand to benefit from the sort of increased extraction Zinke has loudly championed.
Zinke has been a frequent visitor to Santa Barbara, having married Lola Hand, daughter of former prominent Santa Barbara business figure Fred Hand. When Zinke steps down, he’s likely to be succeeded by David Bernhardt, now the Interior Department’s second in command. In contrast to Zinke’s shoot-from-the-hip confrontational approach, Bernhardt is known for his quiet, almost studious approach coupled with a low-key affability.