"There is a balance that needs to be struck," DePaulis said. "I think it's important, particularly to the ethnic minority communities because access is such a huge issue." Unlike some other community leaders, Maung Maung, chair of the Asian Advisory Council, says he's always found the office to be approachable. He is excited about Soriano's goal of combing efforts among the state's minority communities.

"The issues are the same," Maung said. "We should all work together."

Ron Stallworth, former chair of the Black Advisory Council, has been among those critical of the office's leadership, calling them "non-effective" under Huntsman and former director Luz Robles, who resigned to take a private sector post and is eyeing run for the state Senate.

On Friday, Stallworth called Soriano "an excellent choice," saying he hoped Soriano would step up as a vocal advocate and bring relevancy back to the offices.

"Jesse better have an open door policy," Stallworth said. "The minority community is going to call him on it." A search will open soon for a new director of Hispanic Affairs, Soriano said.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com