President Donald Trump intends to name Democrat Geoffrey Starks to serve as an FCC Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement released Friday.
Subject to Senate approval, Starks will fill the vacancy left by Mignon Clyburn, who abruptly stepped down in April. Starks will complete Clyburn’s five-year term, which ends June 30, 2022.
“I congratulate Geoffrey Starks on his forthcoming nomination to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission,” Pai said. “He has a distinguished record of public service, including in the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, and I wish him all the best during the confirmation process.”
The nomination of a Democrat to fill the vacant position on the FCC commission isn’t a surprise, however. By law, only three members of the five-member FCC commission can be from the same party. Clyburn, also a Democrat, was appointed by Barack Obama in 2009.
Starks is currently serving as one of five assistant FCC bureau chiefs at the FCC. He previously served as a senior counsel at the U.S. Justice Department.