Is Lynch Seeking New Leaders At Transportation And HHS?

Ask transportation commissioner Carol Murray if Governor Lynch has sought her resignation, and you get the sense he probably has.

"You need to speak with him about that. My personal decisions I like to keep separate. I'm not trying going to duck you here --and I apologize because you know I don't normally do that. But you are going to have to follow that up with him."

When it was the Governor's turn to explain, he was circumspect -- to the point of declining to give a direct answer.

"You know I've had discussions with Commissioner Murray as to leadership that is there at the department of transportation. How we make it stronger. How we make the department it more viable, and I'm not ready to get into more details about the terms of those discussions."

Lynch was, however, game to stress that concerns about the dot are widespread….…Among other things, he cited a July audit by the legislature that faulted the department for not keeping track of the balance of the highway fund or of toll receipts…..

"It's important that we manage our infrastructure in a high-quality way and that's not happening right now, and I've had a lot a lot of people come to me with concerns that they have; legislative leadership and executive councilors have talked with me."

Lynch also acknowledged that his leadership chats haven't been solely with Carol Murray and her critics…….He says he's also been in discussions with Health and Human services commissioner John Stephen…….Stephen and Lynch have long clashed over policy and political differences…….Animosities flared up again last week, when Stephen's legislative director called Lynch "Governor hypocrite" in an e-mail sent to Fosters Daily Democrat……That staffer has since been placed on the administrative leave, but the controversy reignited speculation that Stephen's days as the state's top health official may be numbered………… Yesterday, Lynch said he had been in talks with Commissioner Stephen, but insisted the topic of Stephen's tenure has never come up.

"You know I've had ongoing meetings with Commissioner Stephen. We have not, I have not had a discussion with Commissioner Stephen about his future with the department."

But according to John Stephen, whose term in office is set to expire next fall, he and the governor have discussed his future and done so more than once plenty.

"I've told him repeatedly and I've said to others that when I took this position and I made a commitment to the council and told the council that I would serve my term, and I fully intend to keep my commitment."

Stephen says he has no plans beyond his work for the heath and human services, and says for now, that will be dominated by preparing the next state budget……..Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray for her part, says she would not want to predict what tomorrow might bring, but says she'd be tempted by if the right private sector job happened to come along.