(Kansas) KDOT secretary Deb Miller leaving for Cambridge Systematics

[J N Winkler]

This news has not hit KDOT's press releases yet as I write this, but subscribers to the "Economic Lifelines" mailing list (which I suspect includes pretty much everyone who has signed up for KDOT's K-TOC discussion board) have just been sent an email saying that Deb Miller, who has been KDOT secretary since 2003, is leaving to take up a job with Cambridge Systematics.

I have no background information as to the timing and motivation for this change.

[route56]

This email blast was released at ~ 4 PM from the Secreatry's office

This isn't news I'm eager to deliver, but I wanted you to hear it from me. I met with Governor Brownback yesterday to tell him that I'm planning to leave KDOT at the end of the year to go to work for Cambridge Systematics, a national transportation planning and policy firm. I've been struggling with this decision for several weeks and I didn't make it easily. While it's a great opportunity, I know that I'm leaving the best job I've ever had at an agency that I love.

While there is never a perfect time to make this kind of transition, this feels like the right time. One of the reasons I stayed on after the election was to get T-WORKS launched.  I feel good about getting that done and appreciate very much Governor Brownback giving me the opportunity.

It has been such a pleasure to be involved in transportation in the state of Kansas.  We have so many interested and committed supporters.  I have appreciated the counsel that I've received from so many of you over the years and I appreciate your willingness to engage with our department.  Because of your involvement, we've made better decisions and we've delivered a better product on behalf of Kansas taxpayers.

I continue to hear great things about KDOT as I travel the state. I gladly accept the praise but I remind people that our success is the result of a great team at KDOT and of a truly statewide, collaborative effort; all of us working together for the people of Kansas.  I will miss that work, but know that you all will see that it continues.

But I've still got seven weeks and lots to accomplish before walking out the door, so I'd better get back to work.  Thank you so much for your support and friendship.

Deb Miller

[J N Winkler]

Yup--note that it does not explain the circumstances of the Cambridge Systematics job offer.  Did it come out of the blue, or was she looking?

[route56]

The Lawrence Journal-World published an editorial today regarding Secretary Miller's departure.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/oct/27/transportation-move/

... and, they were 2 for 2 on road related editorials, celebrating the completion of work on the Kansas Turnpike in the Lawrence area

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/oct/27/road-relief/

[J N Winkler]

Latest news:  Barbara Rankin, KDOT chief counsel for only the past year, has been appointed acting KDOT secretary.

From the blast email sent in her name to KTOC subscribers:

As you may have heard, I have been asked by Governor Sam Brownback to serve as the Acting Secretary of KDOT as the search continues for a permanent Secretary of Transportation.  I am honored that the Governor has entrusted me with this responsibility.

For those of you who aren't familiar with me, I became KDOT's Chief Counsel this past year, taking over from Vicky Johnson.  Prior to that, my 25+ years of legal experience was primarily as in-house counsel for banks and financial services institutions.

[. . .]

Our next priority is to continue our implementation of the T-WORKS program.  The Governor has assured me he is fully committed the T-WORKS.  To that end, we will work with the Governor's office to navigate through the 2012 legislative session with our funding intact. While the Governor expects us to be proactive in looking for efficiencies in how we utilize taxpayer resources and deliver services to the State, he also wants us to carry out our mission to maintain a highway system that provides safe travel for Kansas families, facilitates the smooth flow of commerce and supports the state's economic goals. Another priority during the legislative session will also be working toward getting a safety corridor initiative passed.   This legislation would establish a limited number of safety corridors in Kansas with the goal of reducing fatalities and crashes.

The timing of Rankin's joining KDOT (around the time Brownback was inaugurated as Governor) suggests that she received that initial appointment as patronage.  It concerns me that she comes to the acting secretaryship from the chief counsel's office, which is responsible for administering KDOT's frankly punitive cost-recovery policy for open-records requests.  It also supplied the foot soldiers for PR disasters like the Garden City Telegram case, but to be fair the majority of the blame for those attaches to Deb Miller's predecessors.

It comes as a surprise to me that KDOT is considering a safety corridor initiative.  In other states which have tried them, such as California, Arizona, and New Mexico, some of the safety corridors have looked suspiciously like cheap substitutes for widening.  I had also assumed that KDOT's strong culture of road safety audit, and the generally high alignment standards of Kansas state highways, would have made safety corridors unnecessary.  If I had to guess, the likeliest candidates for formal safety corridor treatment in Kansas would be two-lane state highways for which widening to four-lane divided has had to be shelved--e.g. considerable lengths of US 50.

[route56]

If I had to guess, the likeliest candidates for formal safety corridor treatment in Kansas would be two-lane state highways for which widening to four-lane divided has had to be shelved--e.g. considerable lengths of US 50.

The only safety corridor proposal I know of is one for the K-10 freeway (this, of course, after a crossover incident that affected someone I know personally)

[route56]

Secretary Miller's permanent successor has been announced courtesy of a email blast from the Interim Secretary's office.

I am so pleased to announce that Governor Brownback today named Mike King of Hesston, Kansas, as the new Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation.  Mike may be familiar to some of you. He is president of King Enterprise Group Inc., a general contracting firm located in McPherson that serves the oil/gas/industrial markets throughout Kansas and adjoining states.   I know Mike will do a great job leading KDOT and we all look forward to working with him.

Mike and his wife Peggy live in Hesston with their four children. Mike expects to take over his new duties at KDOT starting in April.  He will officially be Interim Secretary until his confirmation by the Kansas Senate.

I have been honored to serve as Acting Secretary since Deb Miller left the agency in December of last year. Thank you all for your kindness and support during these past months. I know you will welcome Mike with the same warmth as you welcomed me.  I won't be going far; I'll be returning to my job as KDOT's Chief Counsel and look forward to helping with what I anticipate will be a very smooth transition.

I know Mike is excited to deliver T-WORKS and the jobs and economic opportunities that go with it.  Mike's background in the construction industry will certainly be a benefit in ensuring that we continue to have one of the best highway systems in the nation.

[J N Winkler]

Does Mr. King (who, I gather, is not an engineer) have a past relationship with KDOT?  If not, then he must be the first KDOT Secretary in at least fifteen years who has not either been an engineer or worked for KDOT prior to appointment.  (Deb Miller came to the secretaryship from HNTB, but had been head of KDOT planning before that, while Carlson was an engineer and FHWA retiree.)

[route56]

Does Mr. King (who, I gather, is not an engineer) have a past relationship with KDOT?  If not, then he must be the first KDOT Secretary in at least fifteen years who has not either been an engineer or worked for KDOT prior to appointment.  (Deb Miller came to the secretaryship from HNTB, but had been head of KDOT planning before that, while Carlson was an engineer and FHWA retiree.)

According to his bio on the King Enterprises website, he started his career as part of a road construction crew.

[J N Winkler]

Eagle article:

http://www.kansas.com/2012/03/23/2267345/kan-gov-preparing-to-name-new.html

Mr. King started his career 30 years ago, has been owner of the family business for 21 years, and states he has no conflicts of interest because his business (which employs 70, as opposed to KDOT's 2,800) focuses on oil and gas projects.  If he has particular expertise in transportation policy, this is not evident from what has so far been reported of his CV.  I am inclined to suspect a patronage appointment.