GOVERNOR NAMES NEW ITD CHAIR, ANNOUNCES
CABINET REAPPOINTMENTS AND REPLACEMENTS

(BOISE) Governor Jim Risch announced today the appointment of Frank Bruneel as the new chairman of the Idaho Transportation Department board. He immediately replaces Chuck Winder in the position, which serves at the pleasure of the governor.

“Chuck Winder has been a good and faithful public servant for many, many years, and I publicly thank him for his good work. I am appointing Frank Bruneel, effective today, as the new chair of the ITD board. We have a shared vision on the direction of the department, especially with the GARVEE bonding program. He will do an excellent job in moving GARVEE forward and keeping it within the parameters set by the Legislature,” said Risch.

Frank Bruneel served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 1995 – 2002. From 1999 through the 2002 session he served as the Majority Leader for the House Republicans. Mr. Bruneel is from Lewiston and is founder of a tire sales and service company now operated by his son.

Governor Risch also announced the reappointment of several department heads to his cabinet. Department heads and Division and Commission directors serve at the pleasure of the state’s Chief Executive. Governor Risch reappointed the following:

• Patrick Takasugi – Director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Pat Takasugi was first appointed Director in 1996. The agency has 780 employees and a budget of $24 million.
• Karl Dreher – Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Mr. Dreher is serving his third 4-year term as the Director since his appointment in 1995. The Department of Water Resources has 200 employees and a budget in excess of $20 million.
• Toni Hardesty – Director of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Ms. Hardesty was first appointed Director in July 2004. In 2003 she served as the Special Projects Coordinator for the Air Quality Division and as administrator of the Water Quality Division in DEQ.
• Gavin Gee – Director of the Idaho Department of Finance. Mr. Gee was appointed Acting Director of the Department of Finance in 1995 and later as Director. He began his career with the agency in 1977 as a Securities Examiner/Investigator and had a number of assignments in the department throughout the years.

Governor Risch also announced the appointment of Carolyn Terteling-Payne as the Administrator of the Division of Human Resources. She replaces Ann Heilman in the position.

Terteling-Payne has been active in Boise City government, serving on the City Council for 10 years before being appointed Mayor in February of 2003. She retired in 2004 after restoring confidence and stability to the city that had been rocked by scandal.

“I am very pleased that Carolyn has agreed to serve as the administrator of our Human Resources Division,” said Risch. “She has more than proven her competency as an administrator in her work on the city council and as the Mayor of Boise. She will be an outstanding leader as we aggressively work to hire the best and brightest people to work in state government.”

The Governor also announced the appointment of Phillip Bandy as the Deputy Director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. He replaces Mike Everett.

Bandy currently serves as the Invasive Species Coordinator and Interdepartmental Project Manager in the Department of Agriculture, a position he has held since August 2005. Previously he spent 15 years at the Department of Environmental Quality, with the last eight as the Deputy Administrator in both the Administrative Services and Water Quality Divisions of the Department.

“Phil is another great example of our dedicated and outstanding state employees. From his long tenure at DEQ to his work at the Department of Agriculture, Phil is very deserving of this appointment and will continue his outstanding work for the citizens of Idaho,” said Risch.

One final round of cabinet appointments is anticipated shortly.

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