President Trump has appointed former state Republican Rep. John Huffman to lead the Agriculture Department's rural development office in Oregon, the agency announced Friday.

Huffman resigned from the Oregon Legislature Thursday, after saying publicly he would not seek re-election to pursue the Trump administration job. He had represented The Dalles and much of central Oregon since 2007.

Huffman, 60, said Friday that he's glad to have the new job, which he started last week.

"I feel blessed by the appointment because rural development has always had a really significant place in my heart," Huffman said. "It's a lot of where I spent my time in the Legislature – dealing with rural issues and trying to help solve problems."

Huffman said manages a team of 53 and will move to Portland to work out of the agency's local headquarters. The job carries a starting salary of $103,672 -- a big boost from the $24,000 Oregon lawmakers are paid.

Huffman's background includes a career in property development and radio station management. He did not donate to Trump during the presidential campaign, federal records show.

Though he never served on any agriculture committees while a state legislator, Huffman said he has ample rural development experience. As examples, he cited policies he pushed that helped start renewable energy projects, expand rural growth areas and manage Oregon's dams.

The White House picking Huffman puts him among the handful of Oregonians who have taken Trump administration jobs. Another is Lake Oswego businessman George Glass, who Trump installed as ambassador to Portugal.

The president has eyed Huffman's new agency for big budget cuts. Trump's budget proposed slashing funds that subsidize rural businesses, job training programs, infrastructure and utilities projects, and housing.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

503-221-8209; @GordonRFriedman