Daniel Grabauskas

Grabauskas was born in Worcester, Massachusetts.{{cite news |url=http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/News-and-Features/Features/2006/Growth-and-development/Mr-Nice-Guy.aspx |title=Mr. Nice Guy |newspaper=CommonWealth |access-date=30 July 2012 |date=1 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026060737/http://www.commonwealthmagazine.org/News-and-Features/Features/2006/Growth-and-development/Mr-Nice-Guy.aspx |archive-date=26 October 2014 |url-status=dead }} He is the eldest of four children (sisters Lisa, Karen, and brother David). His father, Drasutis Antanas "Tony" Grabauskas, was a native of Lithuania who emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1949 and died in 2010.{{cite news|title=Drasutis Antanas "Tony" Grabauskas, 69|newspaper=Telegram & Gazette|date=July 14, 2010}} His mother, Patricia (Sheehan) Grabauskas-Caruso, is a native of Milbury, Massachusetts.{{cite news|last=Sunter|first=Shaun|title=GOP Convention Notebook|newspaper=Telegram & Gazette|date=April 7, 2002}}{{cite news|title=Fund-Raising Letter Might Have Violated Law|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=October 8, 2006}}{{cite news|title=Lillian C. Sheehan; retired reporter|newspaper=Telegram & Gazette|date=February 6, 1990}} Grabauskas grew up in the Central Massachusetts towns of Sutton and Auburn.{{cite news|title=Grabauskas appointed to Pike board|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=August 19, 2004}} He attended St. John's High School, received his BA from the College of the Holy Cross and his MBA from Cornell University's Johnson School of Management.{{cite news|title=Registry Nominee 'One of Our Best' Grabauskas Wins Praise, Support|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=September 4, 1999}}{{cite news|last=Viotti|first=Vicki|title=Daniel Grabauskas|newspaper=Honolulu Star – Advertiser|date=April 13, 2012}}

Grabauskas began his government career in 1987 on the staff of Massachusetts State Senator Mary L. Padula (R-Lunenburg) and soon became her chief of staff. After Padula's appointment as Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Communities and Development (EOCD) in 1991, he briefly worked as chief of staff for State Senator Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield) before joining Padula as a Deputy Secretary of EOCD from 1991 to 1995. He then served as the chief of staff to the Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services.{{cite news|title=Fit for Office|newspaper=Boston Phoenix|date=October 24, 2002}} From 1995 to 1996 Grabauskas lived and worked in Lithuania as the resident program officer for the nonprofit International Republican Institute.{{cite news|last=Associated Press|title=Treasurer showdown tomorrow|newspaper=The Providence Journal|date=September 16, 2002}} In 1997 he became chief of staff in the Massachusetts Department of Economic Development. From 1998 to 1999, Grabauskas served as the state's Director of Consumer Affairs under Gov. Paul Cellucci.{{cite news|title=Swift successor named|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=February 5, 1998}}{{cite news|title=Daniel Grabauskas|newspaper=Cape Cod Times|date=October 15, 2002}}{{cite news|title=Endorsement; Dan Grabauskas in GOP|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=September 5, 2002}}

From 1999 to 2002, Grabauskas served as Massachusetts' Registrar of Motor Vehicles. At the time of his appointment, the agency was described by the Boston Globe as "plagued with long lines and charges of mismanagement" and was considered a political liability after series of articles in the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune detailed the interminable waits at the Registry.{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Frank|title=Consumer director picked for Registry|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=September 3, 1999}} During his tenure as Registrar, Grabauskas was able to reduce the average wait time at the agency from an hour and fifteen minutes to less than ten minutes. He also instituted the use of the Q-Matic queuing system, which allows customers to view their estimated wait times on customized tickets or online. In addition, the number of online transaction available to the public was greatly expanded, with online transactions rising from about 30,000 in 1999 to over 500,000 in 2002.{{cite news|title=Reforming the Registry Technology, common sense are key to results|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=August 14, 2001}}

In January 2002, Grabauskas resigned as Registrar to run for Treasurer of Massachusetts.{{cite news|last=Arvidson|first=Erik|title=With two gay candidates, GOP stands on issues questioned|newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle|date=January 12, 2002}} He defeated Bruce A. Herzfelder in the Republican primary 53% to 47%. He lost in the general election to Democrat Tim Cahill 51% to 41%.

File:Mayor Thomas M. Menino with State Representative Martin J. Walsh, City Councilor Maureen Feeney and others at Savin Hill MBTA Station opening (21960586553).jpg as Secretary of Transportation in 2005]]

After that loss, Governor-elect Mitt Romney named Grabauskas to his cabinet as Secretary of Transportation and Construction.{{cite news|last=Weiss|first=Joanna|title=Romney Wins Respect for Apolitical Recruiting|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=December 27, 2002}} He also served as a member of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board. During his tenure as Transportation Secretary, the department employed a "fix it first" strategy" which prioritized repairs to existing infrastructure over the construction of new ones.{{cite news|title=Fix first, build later|newspaper=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|date=January 17, 2003}} He oversaw the introduction of the first statewide 20-year transportation plan. The plan directed that at least 75 percent of all new capital spending be focused toward maintaining and improving the state's existing transportation network with these funds dedicated to bridge repair, highway reconstruction, de-bottlenecking, intersection and interchange modernization and ensuring a transit system that is in a state of good repair. The plan also included limited transit expansions, prioritizing projects that earn federal dollars, win community support and encourage local contribution.{{cite news|last=Daniel|first=Mac|title=Governor Issues $31B Transit Plan|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=March 11, 2005}}

In 2005, Grabauskas resigned his position as Transportation Secretary to become General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). During his four-plus years as General Manager, the MBTA switched its payment method from tokens to the CharlieCard,{{cite news|last=Brady-Myerov|first=Monica|title=MBTA Chief's Departure Ends Months Of Escalating Tension|url=http://www.wbur.org/2009/08/07/mbta-boss|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=WBUR|date=August 7, 2009}} construction on the Greenbush Line was completed,{{cite news|last=Ford |first=Mary |title=Greenbush train is almost ready to roll |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/cohasset/8998946606279557119#axzz21byCXNRo |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209052029/http://www.wickedlocal.com/cohasset/8998946606279557119%23axzz21byCXNRo |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |access-date=25 July 2012 |newspaper=The Cohasset Mariner |date=February 8, 2007 }} and WiFi service was installed on commuter rail trains and boats.{{cite news|last=Levenson|first=Michael|title=T use up despite drop in gas cost Advocates hope increase reflects shift in habits|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=January 7, 2009}}{{cite news|last=Hanna|first=Maddie|title=MBTA launches wireless Internet on commuter boats|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=June 25, 2008}}

In 2009, the MBTA bought out the remainder of Grabauskas' contract, citing the Authority's continuing financial problems, customer service complaints, and Grabauskas' handling of two subway accidents.{{cite news|last=Johnson |first=Glen |title=MBTA general manager accepts buyout |url=http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090807/NEWS11/908079998 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119121437/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090807/NEWS11/908079998 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |access-date=25 July 2012 |newspaper=Cape Cod Times |date=August 7, 2009 }}{{cite news|title=Manager's ouster won't solve T's problems|url=http://www.eagletribune.com/opinion/x1896344741/Editorial-Managers-ouster-wont-solve-Ts-problems/print|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=The Eagle-Tribune|date=August 10, 2009}} Grabauskas' ouster, which was engineered by Governor Deval Patrick and Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, was criticized by the state Republican Party, who believed that the Republican-appointed Grabauskas was being used as a scapegoat.{{cite news|last=Chabot|first=Hillary|title=GOP defends MBTA chief, attacks James Aloisi|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=July 31, 2009}} It was also criticized by Democrats Thomas Menino and Steven Baddour, with the latter describing it as "trying to settle a political score at taxpayers' expense".

After his departure, Grabauskas served as a senior fellow for public policy at MassINC and as chairman and senior strategic adviser of the Bronner Center for Transportation Management.{{cite news|last=Bierman|first=Noah|title=Former T chief to blog at think tank|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=October 26, 2009}}{{cite news|last=Abramson|first=Mark|title=Daniel Grabauskas named executive director of Honolulu rail agency|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2012/02/24/daniel-grabauskas-named-executive.html|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=Pacific Business News|date=February 24, 2012}}

In March 2012 Grabauskas was named Executive Director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) after he and the HART board of directors agreed on a three-year contract that includes an annual base salary of $245,000, a $36,000 a year housing allowance, a transportation allowance of $6,000 a year, and a potential $35,000 annual performance bonus.{{cite news|title=Daniel Grabauskas named HART Executive Director|url=http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/daniel-grabauskas-named-hart-executive-director/|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=Breaking Travel News|date=March 22, 2012}} HART oversees the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project, the largest public works project in the history of the state of Hawaii.{{cite news|last=Dayton|first=Kevin|title=Rail construction might be sidelined until spring|newspaper=Honolulu Star – Advertiser|date=September 14, 2012}} The project, scheduled to open in 2019, is a $9.2 billion, 20-mile long automated rail system that plans to operate a fleet of 80 rail cars and an infrastructure of 21 stations, a 43-acre maintenance and storage facility, three park-and-ride lots, and one park-and-ride structure.{{cite news|title=website, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation|publisher=Honolulu Transit|date=October 24, 2002}}

Grabauskas resigned from HART in August 2016. HART Board of Directors member Michael D. Formby was named as interim director.{{cite news |url=http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/grabauskas-resigns-as-hart-ceo-formby-takes-over-in-interim.html?channel= |title=Grabauskas resigns as HART CEO, Formby takes over in interim |last=Senese |first=Kyra |date=August 19, 2016 |newspaper=RT&S |accessdate=August 25, 2016}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:Politicians from Worcester, Massachusetts

Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni

Category:Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management alumni

Category:American gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ appointed officials in the United States

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