04.29.08
We Don’t Need Political Hacks, Especially At TxDOT
Move It! is reporting that changes are afoot at TxDOT, Highway Chair Hope Andrade on way out:
Texas Transportation Commission Chairwoman Hope Andrade, who has a steady resolve but not the fire and spark of the deceased chairman she replaced in January, won’t be reappointed, sources say.
Such a possibility was first reported by Express-News reporter Peggy Fikac in February, and today she’s hearing that the governor’s office might make the announcement tomorrow.
Elected officials closely tied to transportation say Gov. Rick Perry will appoint his former chief of staff, Deirdre Delisi, 35, of Austin, and Fort Worth executive Bill Meadows, 55, who serves on the North Texas Tollway Authority board.
There is only one vacancy, left when Perry’s toll enforcer, Chairman Ric Williamson, died in December. That means Andrade is probably on the way out. The Texas Senate will have to confirm the picks.
I’ll trust Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) chair of the Senate Transportation Committee on this one. From back in January:
Carona said he has been told that Gov. Rick Perry will appoint former Chief of Staff Deirdre Delisi to the Texas Transportation Commission. The governor’s office declined to comment.
Carona said it would be a bad move.
“We don’t need political hacks in that position,” he said. “We need people who understand the business. We need people who understand transportation. We don’t need someone who’s unpopular with the Legislature.”
Also under consideration are Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, who isn’t seeking re-election, and former Fort Worth Councilman Bill Meadows, now a North Texas Tollway Authority member.
Carona isn’t high on Krusee, a Perry insider. But he likes Meadows.
Carona’s opinion matters, since they will have to be confirmed by the senate.