Montana Transportation Department Director Resigns

The governor's office says that the Montana Department of Transportation Jim Lynch has resigned.

A Thursday release says that a replacement has already been found — and named.

Current DOT employee Tim Reardon will now lead the agency. Reardon has been the agency's chief legal counsel since 1994 and held various state posts prior to that.

Reardon will continue to make his current salary of about $100,000 a year.

No reason was given for Lynch's departure, although the governor praised him in a statement and indicated Lynch would be returning to the private sector. Lynch worked for a building materials company prior to his 2004 appointment.

The Associated Press