Keith named MoDOT director

Intro:	In the middle of a budget crunch, MoDOT introduced its new director Thursday.
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Wrap:

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Description: "The next director of MoDOT, Mr. Kevin Keith." (Applause)

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Description: "The next director of MoDOT, Mr. Kevin Keith."

(Applause)

Keith has been interim director since April.

That's when former director Pete Rahn resigned to take a job with an engineering company.

Keith takes the job as MoDOT cuts its budget by more than half.

He says the department will have barely enough money to maintain the infrastructure Missouri now has.

But Keith says MoDOT will finish all of the road and bridge projects scheduled for the next five years.

From Jefferson City, I'm Theo Keith, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	MoDOT's new director says he'll be different from the department's last leader. Theo Keith reports from Jefferson City.
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Wrap: The department chose Kevin Keith as its new director, after a nationwide search.

At a news conference, Keith explained his leadership strategy.

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Description: "Well, I'm fairly direct. And that's probably even an understatement." (Laughter)

And he said how his leadership would be different than former director Pete Rahn's.

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Description: "Pete was a master at marketing. Probably my forte has been I'm a master at producing results, I get things done. But one of the things he's taught me is it's not just good enough to do it, you've got to talk about it."

Keith is giving up his job as chief engineer to become director.

From Jefferson City, I'm Theo Keith, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	The head of Missouri's transportation commission says MoDOT's new director will face a severe budget shortfall. Theo Keith explains in Jefferson City.
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Wrap: New director Kevin Keith is looking at falling revenue, less federal money and no more funds from bonds.

That's according to Rudy Farber, who chairs the commission that chose Keith.

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Description: "We have gone from being the largest contruction program in state history to one where we must focus solely on maintaining the transportation system that we have."

Keith has been interim director since April.

He says raising Missouri's gas tax, one of the lowest in the nation, is not the answer to MoDOT's budget woes.

From Jefferson City, I'm Theo Keith, NewsRadio 1120 KMOX.