New transportation must produce quick results

News Analysis

By David A. Lieb ~ The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Pete Rahn considers himself an innovator when it comes to building a state's highway and transportation system.

He also is a risk-taker.

Rahn accepted the job as Missouri's transportation director last week with full knowledge that Missouri's two leading gubernatorial candidates would rather appoint their own person.

Both Democrat Claire McCaskill and Republican Matt Blunt have proposed a constitutional amendment that would give governors -- not the state Highways and Transportation Commission, as is currently the case -- the power to hire and fire the transportation director.

The winner of their gubernatorial contest will take office in January. And if the new governor has any sway with the Legislature, the proposal for a governor-appointed transportation chief could go before voters as early as next summer.

That means Rahn could have barely a year to convince voters that he -- as billed by commissioners -- is the best "change-agent" for Missouri's troubled transportation department, and that the current form of transportation governance deserves to remain in place.

"That was certainly explained to me as a possibility by the commissioners, and that was a risk that I was willing to assume," Rahn told reporters Thursday.

Rahn will earn $130,008 annually for taking the risk. But he said that is a $56,000 pay cut from what he was making in the private sector as an executive with a construction firm.

Before becoming the vice president of governmental affairs for Ohio-based Contech Construction Products Inc., Rahn served for eight years as New Mexico's transportation director -- a position appointed by the governor.

Blunt and McCaskill each contend that an appointed transportation director is more accountable to the public because the people elect a governor every four years and the governor won't fare too well if the roads are in shambles and the transportation agency a mess.

As it is, the governor appoints the six members of the state Highways and Transportation Commission with the consent of the Senate. But the governor has no power to fire commissioners, and the commissioners have the sole power to hire and fire the department director.

Missouri's current transportation structure is intended to insulate highway construction decisions from politics. But critics say it also insulates highway officials from accountability.

Following Rahn's hiring, Blunt issued a statement offering cooperation while standing by his proposal for a governor-appointed director.

"While I believe greater accountability would be possible at MoDOT by the governor's appointment of the MoDOT director, I look forward to working with Mr. Rahn," said Blunt, the secretary of state.

McCaskill, the state auditor, had a staff member deliver to Rahn more than 20 audits her office has conducted of the transportation department that identity "wasteful spending." She also offered cooperation.

"I look forward to working with him in his new post to ensure that MoDOT is accountable to Missouri taxpayers," McCaskill said in a statement.

Her campaign spokesman, Glenn Campbell, said she still thinks the governor should appoint the director.

But "no one's going to be trying to send a signal to someone who's starting a job in just a matter of weeks that 'your days are going to be numbered,"' Campbell said. "Let's let this guy go to work."

Although he once was a gubernatorial appointee, Rahn said he considers Missouri's commission system superior. So, too, do Missouri's transportation commissioners -- perhaps not surprisingly.

"It's my opinion that the commission form of oversight of the transportation system is truly the best system," Rahn said. "It's more stable and allows for the long-term implementation of plans."

Although he hadn't talked to the gubernatorial candidates yet, Rahn said he "would not be shy" in politely sharing his opinion on the proper form of transportation governance with Blunt or McCaskill.

After all, as Rahn noted, he's not afraid to take a risk.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Capitol Correspondent David A. Lieb covers Missouri government and politics for The Associated Press.