MnDOT's new guy talks transit, bridges and, briefly, boots

David Joles, Star Tribune

Tom Sorel

By JIM FOTI and MIKE KASZUBA , Star Tribune stafff writers

Last update: May 1, 2008 - 11:50 PM

Tom Sorel has been Minnesota's transportation commissioner since Monday. The 51-year-old Woodbury resident says he's still learning about the 4,400-employee department he now heads, but he took time this week to talk about his new job and himself. His comments below have been condensed.

On jumping to the Minnesota Department of Transportation after 30 years with the Federal Highway Administration:

When I did get the call to ask about my interest, I gave it a lot of thought, and it goes back to this idea of servant-leadership and being a public servant. I really truly believe it was somewhat of a calling to make this jump and serve the citizens of Minnesota in a different capacity.

On playing in a baseball tournament at the Metrodome in 1989:

That was my first exposure to the Twin Cities. I had never been here before, and the takeaway from that was I fell in love with the Twin Cities and said if I ever had a chance to come back here, I would. And sure enough, I did.

On the servant-leader philosophy of management:

Simplistically, it's this idea that you're here to serve others. For instance, obviously I'm here to serve the governor, but I'm also here to serve the citizens of Minnesota. It's a mindset that, once you have it, makes your job a lot easier, and it makes your decisionmaking a lot easier. ... You're putting your own self-interest aside to serve the greater good of the community.

On the future of Bob McFarlin, who recently served as acting transportation commissioner and was Carol Molnau's right-hand man:

I'm having discussions with Mr. McFarlin, and we haven't determined anything at this point. I think it's premature for me to say a whole lot about what his future role might be.

On handling any differences he might have with the governor on transit or other issues:

You could almost equate your question to a family, and in a family, there's going to be disagreements and people are going to discuss and disagree on things, and you hope that in the end that you can come to some consensus on where you're headed as a family.

As the governor and I work together on transportation, there may be times when we disagree, but hopefully we can come to some consensus on how to move forward. You know, the bottom line is he is the boss, and that's how we would move forward ...

On the Wakota Bridge project, which is years behind schedule:

I need to take some time with the bridge engineers to understand what we can do from a design standpoint so that doesn't happen again. It is something that I want to look at, and to see if we can learn some lessons there. I'm a firm believer in lessons learned and taking those lessons and moving forward in a positive way.

On whether he's related to the folks who make Sorel boots:

I wish I was.

jfoti@startribune.com • 612-673-4491 mkaszuba@startribune.com • 612-673-4388

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