Jamey Tesler on Friday marked four full months as state transportation secretary, a post he holds on an acting basis. So is the former registrar of motor vehicles a candidate for the permanent and powerful post? The Baker administration won’t say.
Transportation officials last week referred a News Service question about whether Tesler is in the running for the job to Baker’s office.
“Since January, Acting Secretary Jamey Tesler has stepped into his role with focus and determination to support all aspects of the Commonwealth’s transportation system and the administration will have more information about this role soon,” Baker spokesman Terry MacCormack said.
In January, former Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, who held that post for six years, left the administration rather abruptly to join the Federal Highway Administration and help President Joe Biden build out his transportation team.
Baker has not said whether he will seek a third term and any candidate for the secretary’s post would have to consider whether to take the job knowing that the two-term governor might only be in office for about 18 more months.
When Tesler was introduced as acting secretary, the Baker administration touted his previously experience as chief operating officer, chief of staff and assistant secretary for procurement at MassDOT, as well as his work in former Gov. Jane Swift’s legal office and at the state Treasury.
