 U.S. Representative Charles Rangel tapped de Blasio to be his campaign manager for his successful 1994 reelection bid.In 1997, he was appointed to serve as the regional director for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for New York and New Jersey under the administration of President Bill Clinton.As the tri-state region's highest-ranking HUD official, de Blasio led a small executive staff and took part in outreach to residents of substandard housing.