The director of the Department of Transportation, Henry Hungerbeeler, is cool to the idea of making his office an elected position. Senator Jim Mathewson wants to make the MODOT director an elected office so voters have more of a voice in highway construction. He hopes it would lend some credibility to the department when legislators ask voters for tax increases to pay for new construction. Hungerbeeler says a 4 year term wouldn’t be enough, when most road projects take 12 years just to start construction.
