Job opening at MnDOT: Who’s it gonna be?
Posted on February 28th, 2008 – 1:14 PMBy Roadguy
It’s official: Molnau ousted as transportation commissioner
Click above for the story, here for her statement.
Some of Roadguy’s colleagues have already started calling him “Commish,” but he’s still working on his resume. So pick a public official, your favorite engineer or someone else and let the bandying about of names continue.
(Through the magic of the Internet, I’ve revised this post and moved it up the page.)
48 Responses to "Job opening at MnDOT: Who’s it gonna be?"
Sorry, Roadguy. I’ve had people actually E-mail me saying they’d want me as MnDOT Commissioner. :o)
‘Course, they’ll have to wait until I’m done with the Navy. Wonder if the Senate is hiring in 2014…
Yeah Froggie, but you’ll have to get in line. Not that our governor would ever appoint someone who understands multi-modal transportation (yes Jay Maynard, cars and trucks included).
I know Froggie supports transit, but I couldn’t support him as Transportation Commissioner unless he changed his freeway expansion bias. In my world it’s extremely fiscally irresponsible to super-size to “maximum build out” your infrastructure on one mode (the car) before you build out the bones that the other modes (transit, bicycling and walking) need to absorb their fair share of the transportation load.
It never works to make one street (or one mode) do all of the work (or a disproportionate share of the work). This is called a confluence and lack of connectivity in the transportation planning world and it never works. We know this via history.
Hmm. This does beg an interesting question - who would make a great transporation commissioner?
Peter Bell perhaps?
As a transportation-related aside, I don’t think I have seen much about Dick Day’s decision to run for Congress. If he wins, how would his absence from the Legislature affect transportation issues?
I second either Roadguy or Froggie as the new commish. We really need to get that cardboard cutout of a Transportation Commissioner out of office. Her handling of the Wakota Bridge & Crosstown project are grounds enough for dumping her.
I am hoping one of these guys runs for Gov. in the next election. They seem to have all the answers.
Bell might not be a bad choice. Considering he’s a gubernatorial appointee (the entirety of the Met Council should be elected by the public, in my opinion - make them a more accountable regional governing body), he’s done a pretty good job of representing the Met Council in an independent manner, supporting the work of staff and long standing policies, rather than trying to score cheap political points.
That’s exactly the kind of advocate MnDOT deserves, rather than someone like Molnau, who’s ‘other’ job cast a shadow over the whole works. MnDOT needs that kind of an advocate within the organization.
if Dick Day leaves the legislature, there won’t be any more silly signs (”slow traffic move right”) on the highways.
I always thought the signs should read “slow traffic, go to owatonna” myself.
despite all the work the senator has put into bills all these years, his most visible accomplishment from his most vocal and continuing crusade is a series of “D’oh!” signs.
Much as I respect Peter Bell, I would be opposed to him becoming Commissioner of Transportation. He is essentially a politician. That post used to be filled by an engineer who actually knew what building roads and transit were about. My favorite was Dick Braun who headed the Department of Transportation from 1979 to 1986, serving Republican Gov. Al Quie and DFL Gov. Rudy Perpich. It’s that kind of non-partisan approach we need here, not another politician. It was Braun, you might recall, who closed the High Bridge in St. Paul based on about as much evidence as existed for the 35W bridge and ordered it replaced BEFORE it could fall down. Check out this editorial http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/11148216.html.
My kind of Commish! Maybe he’s still available.
FYI:
Molnau was just given the pink slip by the Senate. Thank you Minnesota Senate!
Good news on Molnau finally getting the boot. She was obviously in way over her head.
I hope the new commissioner is a good manager who puts politics second (ha ha). Maybe Pawlenty can offer the job to Froggie on a moonlight basis. It would be a big improvement from where we just came from.
I hope they can actually open the position up to qualified applicants and find the best person for the job. Maybe that person should be interviewed by those actually on or near the bridge when it collapsed.
How about Mr. “My way or the highway” Pawlenty’s comment: “It also shows they’re [DFL] more interested in partisanship than working together on the important issues facing our state.” So clueless….
Our country and its citizens continue to suffer and lives effected in many ways, including death with the appointment of political cronies instead of qualified people. Remember this when you vote in the next election and demand that your candidate be accountable.
I was shocked to see the State Republican party retaliated against members of their party who voted from there heart and not down party lines on the Transportation Bill. That is clearly what is wrong with American politics today. Our elected officials should be representing all of us, not just the view of either party.
We are first of all American, not democrats or republicans. VOTE as an American in the next election.
Transportation bill passed, Molnau gone… I better check the calendar because it feels like Christmas! 
How can Pawlenty say anything negative about DFL partisanship when his own party demoted 6 members who DARED vote against their party’s “leadership”?
Yeah! That news just made my day. Let’s hope they finally figure out they need someone with actual engineering experience and not a politician this time.
Shocked to see the Republican party retaliate against those that voted with the Dems to override a veto?? I was shocked they weren’t stripped of their GOP endorsements on the spot.
When you don’t vote with your party, your same-party Governor, or your constituents, you should be forced to switch parties. That’s how much use we have for you.
Best cadidate for the job, Kevin Z. Gray, look him up @ MnDOT, he has the right stuff!
One question:
What do any of you actually get from the State of Minnesota in return for the $35B spent each year?
All I can think of is that I drive on State highways. And occasionally visit a State Park (which I pay for). I’m as happy as anyone that the plows come out, and I think the State Patrol should have good equipment.
What do you get?
Botski writes about partisanship? Hmmmm… Show me ONE Dem who voted NO to all these new taxes. The Libs and Dems are the biggest partisan hacks. Witness today’s events. Why does “compromise” always require conservatives to give up their core beliefs. Look at the facts. (Something Libs don’t like to do.) In how many of the recent spending bills did a Dem break ranks? Point made.
BarryS: You’d better check more than your calendar because come Christmas, you’ll have a lot less money to spend thanks to all the new taxes. Or are you one of those who thinks you’re entitled to everyone else’s property and money.
Careful barryS, most of your komrades don’t believe in Christmas. I’m surprised they haven’t trained you to say “Winter Solstice” instead.
I just saw they appointed McFarlin as interim commissioner. How is that any different than Molnau? It always looked like she was just the talking head. He was the one in charge.
Hi, all,
Three cheers for Big Kahuna III! I was at MnDOT in St. Paul when Braun was Commissioner, and I can tell you that everything B.K. says is so.
The DFL has pointed the finger at Molnau for over a year. Do they realize that when you point a finger there are three fingers pointing back at them? The DFL controlled Senate has not properly funded transportation for over 20 years and now they want to do so in one year and on the backs of the poor and retired seniors with a regressive tax! Shame on the DFL for moving transportation funding from the progressive income tax to sales tax, car tabs and excise tax! Shame on the DFL for shining the light on Molnau when it should have been on the DFL!
What do you get for $35B? You get bike paths and a wonderful light rail system that NO ONE uses! Oh, and in addition to all the $$ spent on building light rail, it will ALWAYS have an operational deficit. (In English speak to Libs: It means you need to tax us hard-working people to pay for more of your boondoggles.) Isn’t it odd that there’s no money to improve/maintain roads that 97% of the people use, yet there is a billion $ to build light rail that people can only use to get from downtown to airport and Mall of America. That’s simply brilliant. Obviously the libs who come up with the ideas seem to have never had business or economics classes. Hmmm….. maybe we should spend more money on public schools that continue to fail. Another brilliant idea. Then we can graduate people who have to take remedial courses in college before they can take college-level classes.
The next transportation commissioner approved by the Senate will have the initial PE after his/her name. The Senate made it clear they want a professional engineer as transportation commissioner, not a loyal former legislator. Having said that, I’m sure there are plenty of loyal republican engineers who could be confirmed as transportation commissioner.
I’m not so sure than Pawlenty will nominate anyone for commissioner during this session. He named Bob McFarlin, his right hand man, as the acting commissioner. McFarlin has been the spokesperson for MN/DOT far more often than Molnau or the deputy commissioner Lisa Freese combined. I don’t know if there is a time limit to being “acting” commissioner. Pawlenty might just leave McFarlin in the acting role for as long as he wants to or for as long as he can until forced to nominate someone.
So this means 30 years of traffic problems are solved now….
[rolleyes]
Is it just me, or does she look like she belongs in one of those fairy tales… the one that lives under a bridge. scary.
The cerebral superiority of the democrats lead by Steve Murphy has never before been on such display. Murphy, et.al., were able to confirm that Molnau caused the failure of the I35 bridge. Then they summarily fired her. What a great organization! I feel better already. Bridges and democrats have long history…all the way back to Chappaquiddick. Gee, Teddy wasn’t fired??
Democrats looking for compromise are not asking conservatives to give up their one and only core belief - greed. Instead, they are just asking the Ayn Rand worshipers to step aside and allow Minnesota to progress in a positive direction.
My qualifications:
*Someone who’s not an elected or previously elected offical.
*Someone with a multi-modal focus. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. And Boats, Bikes, and Busses, too. The “T” stands for “Transportation”. That’s everything.
*Someone with a state-wide focus, who can plan and execute projects from Hennepin Avenue to the Gunflint Trail.
*Someone with industry/business experience, who understands investment and paying to get it built the right way the first time around.
*Someone who can take care (maintenance) of the existing system _and_ expand the system according to current and future needs.
*Someone willing to stand up to the Governor, the Legislature, and/or the population of the state of Minnesota to do what needs to be done. Step on the toes that need stepping on, regardless of who owns the feet.
Hey Snowman,
The engineers who signed off on the I35W bridge 40 years had a PE after their names. I wont insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just wrote.
What an idiot T-Paw was for appointing his LT. Gov. to the position in the first place (what relevant experience did she have?) I can’t believe Molnau even stayed on this long when everyone was calling for her to resign…
The people have spoken manface Molnau and you sir are an embarassment.
Why not appoint some retired state trooper. Many of them have had a history of retiring after 30 years on the patrol and then moving into cushy job at MnDot. At least they have lots of “road” experience!
I’m going to have plenty of $ in my coffers for Christmas. Thanks for asking.
I am sure the democrats want to get a noose and a tree for the poor woman. next will be a firing line for all the rest of the republicans.
I can see it now on the headstones,
“R.I.P. Republicans….your tax dollars will be missed but you won’t be.”
cafemous, read the article again. The Senate will not confirm a transportation commissioner who is not an engineer. It has nothing to do with the engineers who signed off on the 35W bridge 40 years ago.
Molnau was not an advocate for transportation. She did not, and maybe still does not, understand how MN/DOT finances projects which is why MN/DOT got into financial problems. They postponed the Crosstown project, they dropped the 494/169 interchange project, they borrowed $50 million from the Metropolitan Council, they took money away from TH 12 and the Devil’s Triangle projects for Crosstown, they scaled back the scope of the 94 widening near 3M, and that’s just stuff that has happened in the metro area in the last few years. She was appointed as commissioner not because she was qualified, but because she would do whatever she was told to do and because it looked good to have her do two jobs.
I worked at the DOT. Molnau was run of the mill as far as commisioners go over the last 20 years. It’s pretty clear that the only real hurdle for becoming a commisioner is political. Beyond that, competency, experience running an engineering-like organization (engineer or not) or even more generally running any somewhat large group of people is not considered.
What has the result been?
they’ve tried Demming quality control - but without positive feedback for saving money/time, massive efforts at creating “vision statements” with each new administration and my personal favorite Molnaus “suggestion/complaint” box which was used to get employees to rat each other out - that worked once!
Is the DOT perfect, no, but apparently neither are mortgage companies, airlines, banks, phone companies, or the health care industry.
restrict the political appointees in government to the Commissioner and the 1st tier below that and you’ll see an organization that you can observe from year to year for cracks and failures. The current system reshuffles the chairs anytime they want to hide a problem. That’s how Sonia Pitt got through the cracks.
The Guv will appoint the loyal lapdog Rep. Marty Siefert from Marshall, MN.
The Guv’s idea to appoint the Lt. Gov was a good idea BUT he needed to appoint someone with some background in transportation, not to someone for a political favor.
I have heard former Rep. Tim Wilkin really wants the job. he is an AC at the Dept.of Health now, and is from Eagan, so has all the requirement TPAw usually goes for: failed legislator and from Eagan.
How about Tim Penny…
Otherwise I’d say try and talk former Mn/DOT commish Dick Brawn into taking the post for a second time.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rep. Mary Liz Holberg appointed commissioner. I often saw her and Molnau off on the side kibitzing during committee meetings, Holberg was chair of the House Transportation Committee, she hates transit, lives in the burbs (Lakeville)and just wants to drive her SUV as fast as possible to St. Paul. TPaw’s perfect replacement for Molnau.
Anyone who believes that getting rid of Molnau will solve MNDot’s problems is unaware of many many problems in that agency. They are thick with people who abuse their power and don’t worry about it because they know the legislature will just give them more money when they ask for it. I am glad she is gone, because it symbolizes the fact that people are noticing there is a problem there - but believe me it is just the tip of the iceberg as to what the people at MNDot get away with and the businesses and families they destroy in the state of Minnesota…..
JimD-
A little cranky today, are we?
Here’s the link that will tell you how the state spends money. Transportation is 9% of total spending.
http://www.budget.state.mn.us/budget/summary/charts/071130_all_funds_piecharts.pdf
Yes, rail runs has an operational deficit, but I have yet to hear about the operational surplus 494 generates. Perhaps the reason 97% use roads is the alternatives are pretty poor (buses sit in traffic, too).
If investing in a mass transit system is liberal, then so be it. In a decade or two, we’re going to have a much bigger city and a million old boomers to boot. I hate to think what the roads will be like when tens of thousands of 80 year olds are out driving in the snow. Rail works quite well in many places, and will work well here, too. Especially when a full network exists rather than only the first leg. Spend a couple of weeks commuting in Washington DC and you’ll realize mass transit is far from a boondoggle.
BTW, my kids are receiving a very good education in the public school system.
How about Darrel Waltrip?
Call me crazy, but how about appointing a real engineer? Part of the problem with the Molnau/McFarlin team is that they have no professional expertise in transportation. When you’re billions of dollars in construction contracts you want someone who can actually figure out which bids have real value and make sense. tens of millions have we wasted over the last few years because of the lack of expertise. Just look at the 35W bridge, they picked the slowest and most expensive team (from out of state as well).Crosstown was delayed a year because the failure to understand the bidding process and Wakota Bridge the same deal. Enough politicians already.
First of all,JimD, saying no one rides the LRT=saying “I’m an idiot living in denial of the actual facts, blinded of the truth by my ignorance, so don’t read my posts”. The ridership of LRT SHATTERED projections and continues to grow. I guess the 27,000 daily “no ones” don’t count in your world. That’s more than 1/6 of all downtown workers. And I’m sure they don’t reduce congestion, because before LRT they rode their magic carpets into town instead of driving.
As for who the next commissioner is, I don’t care, as long as they’re a transportation advocate and not an extension of T-PAW, someone who stands by with a big smile on their face as T-Paw vetoes transportation funding. If they were actually qualified to do such a job it would be a plus.
After reading Ed’s link to the charts, I’ll never listen to anyone who says we need more funding for education or advocates passing a school funding referendum. If 27% of our State’s budget isn’t enough funding, then what is? Maybe it’s just stupid kids.
As for the new transit and gas taxes, everyone against it is saying we should have made cuts elsewhere instead. I agree that waste should be cut, and education, underperforming even though it is well funded, and Human services, at a whopping 38%(!) of our total budget, are great places to start.
