PERRY SAID TO BE TOP CANDIDATE FOR ENERGY SECRETARY

Donald Trump has narrowed his search for energy secretary to four people, with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry the leading candidate.

People familiar with the president-elect’s selection process said two Democratic senators from energy-producing states — Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia — are in the mix, along with Ray Washburne, a Dallas investor and Perry former chairman

of the Republican National Committee.

If Trump picks any of the four he will break with recent tradition of putting scientists at the top of the Energy Department. Among other things, the agency is responsible for policies on the safe handling of nuclear material.

Trump met with Perry and Washburne while attending the Army-Navy football game in Baltimore on Saturday. It was at least the second time he’d spoken to the two men for potential roles in the new administration. Trump met with Heitkamp on Dec. 2, and is scheduled to meet with Manchin in New York. Bloomberg News BBB