Huntsman drops ax again

Tony Yapias, who was appointed director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs in April 2003, had hoped to serve his community longer.

But on Thursday, he found out that he was one of about half of the governor-appointed staff of the Department of Community and Economic Development whom Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has decided not to retain, said Chris Roybal, governor's senior adviser for economic development.

"One of the things I've been pretty passionate about is, I care about my community," Yapias said. "I've enjoyed this position which has given me honor to serve the community."

Every state department's appointed employees are being reviewed, Huntsman said Wednesday during a press conference held to announce the members of his new Cabinet. Hundreds of people throughout government serve at the pleasure of the governor.

"We'll have many, many more appointments to be made and a lot of changes at the sub-Cabinet level as well," Huntsman said. "But I think we have a good balance of change and continuity. I'm not one who believes you change things just to change things."

Roybal said most of Thursday's changeover came in economic development and travel and tourism. Huntsman wants to move the community development side into a community and arts department, and move economic development under the governor's office, Roybal said. The change requires legislative approval.

"The first item will be strategy and reorganization, as opposed to just refilling those posts immediately," he said.

Some of those who lost their jobs, such as deputy director Dick Bradford, would remain through the transition period, he said.

Sylvia Haro, selected by Huntsman as a Cabinet member to oversee community and the arts, said she'll evaluate those appointed positions who kept their jobs Thursday when she takes office on Jan. 17. Haro said replacements would likely be hired by next week, though she said no applicant names would be released.

"I feel like we need to select people who are going to be able to carry Huntsman's goals," she said.

Haro said she expected the ethnic offices to continue serving their communities in areas such as education and economic development, as well as better coordination with other government offices.

Edith Mitko, director of the Office of Asian Affairs, and Forrest Cutch, director of the Office of Indian Affairs, were retained.