Gubernatorial appointee Paul Franz introduces materials engineering background to Senate Transportation Committee

Paul Franz, a recent retiree from the materials-supply industry in North Idaho, introduced himself to the Idaho Senate Transportation Committee on the committee—s agenda for a gubernatorial appointment.

Franz told the committee he lives in Bayview, Idaho, "north of Coeur D'Alene between Coeur D'Alene and Sandpoint," and that he is "recently retired, from working 42 years, with a material supplier up in North Idaho, called Interstate Concrete and Asphalt and our other Northwest companies." He said he worked as a materials engineer at asphalt and ready-mix aggregate plants and graduated from the University of Idaho around 1983.

The committee's purpose for the appearance was informational. Senate Transportation Committee members asked Franz about priorities for Idaho transportation and how he would respond to constituents pressing for specific projects. Franz said Idaho faces widespread needs as population and growth put pressure on roads and infrastructure and that "normally there's less funding than needs," so allocating available funds efficiently would be important. When asked how he would respond to "pushy" stakeholders, he said he would begin by listening and responding "in a professional manner."

Senators present thanked Franz for his time and told him the committee would take a vote on his confirmation at a later meeting. No confirmation vote was taken at the session recorded in the transcript.