Washington ? Former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves is hinting that he won’t become the next transportation secretary, despite reports to the contrary.

Graves, who now heads the American Trucking Assns., is among several candidates named in published reports as a possible successor to departing Secretary Norman Mineta.

“I like what I’m doing now,” Graves told Traffic World, a magazine that covers the transportation industry, in a story to be published next week.

Graves has declined to comment publicly, but a spokeswoman for Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., says Graves has indicated he wants to remain with the trucking group.

“While Senator Roberts has the highest regard for Governor Graves and would be proud to see a Kansan in the Cabinet, he understands that the governor will stick with his commitment to ATA,” spokeswoman Sara Little said Tuesday.

Tiffany Wlazlowski, a spokeswoman for the trucking association, said she would not comment on speculation.

Graves’ apparent lack of interest didn’t stop Gov. Kathleen Sebelius from penning a letter to President Bush on Tuesday urging him to select Graves for the post.

Sebelius said Graves was instrumental in helping pass Kansas’ 10-year Comprehensive Transportation Program in 1999. The program has improved more than 10,000 miles of Kansas roads and bridges.

“Based on his past experience and personal character, I can think of no better individual to select as the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation than Bill Graves,” Sebelius wrote to Bush.

Mineta, the only Democrat in President Bush’s Cabinet, announced his resignation last month. In a recent interview with Traffic World, Mineta said he would like to see his deputy, Maria Cino, become the next transportation secretary.

Graves became president and chief executive officer of the Alexandria, Va.-based American Trucking Assns. in 2003, after serving two terms as Kansas governor. The trade group represents nearly 37,000 motor carriers through affiliated state trucking associations.

A Republican, Graves was born into a trucking company family and is widely respected as head of the industry’s leading trade group. He also has been an elite fundraiser for President Bush. He was a “Pioneer” during Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign, raising more than $100,000 in contributions.