Editorial: Mixed grades for 2 Perry picks

May 2, 2008

The Dallas Morning News

Gov. Rick Perry gets a B+ and an Incomplete for his new picks to the Texas Transportation Commission.

One of the two, William Meadows of Fort Worth, is a solid choice and brings a wealth of public service to the job. His appointment also fulfills the traditional obligation to provide North Texas with a representative on the five-person board.

Mr. Meadows is well versed in highway issues, owing to his service on the North Texas Tollway Authority board. He knows the daunting obstacles the metro area faces in paying for roads to keep up with our nation-leading population growth.

There's one irony in this appointment: The Perry-appointed state commission has frequently been at odds with the NTTA as it has pushed to open toll projects to private bidding. That bruising competition has pressed the local agency financially, helping to trigger a revolt by lawmakers against the concept of private investor-operators for state toll roads.

Mr. Meadows could bring insight to the touchy issue and attest to both the usefulness and the limits of the funding approach.

It's too early to assign a grade to the other Perry appointment, that of his former chief of staff Deirdre Delisi of Austin, who will chair the commission. She fills a vacancy created by the death last year of the headstrong Ric Williamson of Weatherford, whose bluntness earned him legions of critics and contributed to the lawmakers' revolt.

The ill will has not dissipated, and Ms. Delisi must prove that she is up to the task of clearing the air with the Legislature. She will have to contend with complaints that she is a politically focused Perry disciple and lacks the credentials to lead the massive highway department. Indeed, some lawmakers seem eager to overhaul the governance of the agency.

We hope Ms. Delisi can prove up her diplomatic skills and articulate a vision. At the same time, lawmakers need to show a willingness to proclaim a fresh start.

Texas' road-funding picture is a mess, and counterproductive political wrestling matches won't help unsnarl one traffic jam.