Inslee names an acting Department of Transportation secretary

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Roger Millar to serve as acting secretary of transportation following the Senate's firing of the previous secretary.


Inslee announced Wednesday that Millar, who is currently the Deputy Secretary for the state Department of Transportation, would replace Lynn Peterson, who was ousted by the Senate when majority Republicans and a Democrat who caucuses with them took the rare move of rejecting her gubernatorial appointment.

According to the governor's office, prior to joining the agency, Millar served as vice president of a national organization, providing technical assistance to state transportation agencies in several states.

Inslee spokeswoman Jaime Smith said that Millar will serve in the role "for the foreseeable future" and said that Millar's appointment is not subject to confirmation since he's in an acting role. Inslee has not yet selected a new secretary, said Smith, who did not give a timeline on when that could occur.