State names new manager of Public Works Board

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000 | 10:36 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Daniel O'Brien, public works director and county engineer for Lyon County, Monday was named manager of the state Public Works Board, responsible for more than $200 million in state construction every two years.

The Works Board interviewed five candidates before unanimously choosing O'Brien, who will succeed Eric Raecke. The job pays $89,301 a year.

State Budget Director Perry Comeaux, chairman of the Works Board, said O'Brien will start by Dec. 1.

The job drew 14 applicants. An evaluation team of three members of the board plus state Prison Director Jackie Crawford; Dan Miles, vice chancellor of the University and Community Colle System of Nevada; and representatives of the construction and architecture industries narrowed the field to five finalists.

Other finalists were Donald Hotchkiss, a former deputy of the Public Works Board; Charles Swanson, who worked for the Army Corps of Engineers; Dean Borges, a former deputy manager of the board; and Ward Patrick, a current deputy of the board and interim manager.

O'Brien has been public works chief in Lyon County since December 1998. Before that he ran his own business. From 1986 to 1994 he was public works director for Carson City.

Comeaux said O'Brien sought the job when Raecke was selected and had placed high in the rankings, he said.

The agency oversees construction and remodeling projects for state government.