 |
|
|
Press Release -- January 6, 2009
Markell picks Wicks to continue as Delaware's Secretary of Transportation
State will be Ready to Roll on Federal Stimulus Spending for Critical Projects
Dover --
Citing her ability to lead one of the state's most complex agencies during turbulent financial times, Governor-elect Jack Markell on Tuesday announced he will be re-nominating Secretary of Transportation Carolann Wicks.
"Effective transportation is critical to getting our state, more specifically our state's economy, moving again," Markell said. "The Department of Transportation must be reliable, responsible, predictable and accountable. We need Carolann Wicks' leadership at DelDOT that puts people first. She has the experience to lead the agency in the difficult economy as it faces the challenges of meeting our growing transportation needs."
Said Lieutenant Governor-elect Matt Denn, "Carolann's experience, leadership and technical background make her uniquely qualified to meet these challenges and make the right decisions in difficult circumstances."
Wicks is the president of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials, which is playing a leading role in representing states' interests to the federal government as the stimulus plan is being designed. The package will generate tens of millions of dollars' worth of needed infrastructure improvements and is expected to create needed jobs.
"Given the huge financial challenges we must overcome, it is absolutely critical that Delaware be ready to roll in a few weeks to take full advantage of the federal stimulus bill," Markell said. "We need a seamless transition in this department and Carolann's experience and leadership to ensure that happens.
Wicks became the state's eighth secretary of transportation in 2006 after more than 23 years in the agency. She had been serving as DelDOT's chief engineer before taking the helm at DelDOT.
"DelDOT can be and must be a critical component to economic development and improved quality of life in Delaware. We can get there by measuring every decision by the impact it will have on the people affected by them and by putting them first," Wicks said. "I am honored to be selected as Governor-Elect Markell's Secretary of Transportation. In this time of historic budget and economic challenges, we need to make the agency even more reliable, responsible and predictable to the citizens. While there are many accomplishments to point to from the past, I also realize there are many challenges ahead and so much further to go. I join this administration ready and able to take on those challenges. If a federal infrastructure stimulus bill is passed by Congress, we will be ready to utilize these federal funds to accelerate projects, further the reinvestment in preserving our transportation system while helping to support the economic recovery of this state."
|
|
|
