Jesse Soriano was appointed by Palmer DePaulis, the state's Department of Community and Culture director, after a five-month search to fill the position. Soriano is resigning as the director of the University of Utah Health Sciences Ethnic Minority Affairs Office and plans to start his new job in late October or early November.

Soriano, a 73-year-old Republican, is also stepping down as the state's Hispanic/Latino Advisory Council chairman after three years on the board. The council and the Hispanic affairs office are supposed to serve as a link between the Latino community, state agencies and Gov. Jon Huntsman.

DePaulis, who started his job about four months ago, oversees the Office of Ethnic Affairs, including the Hispanic office, and five other state divisions. Soriano was picked for the post because of his "lifetime experience" and ability to come up with ideas and solutions, DePaulis said. Soriano has served on many private and public boards, giving him a broad overview of the challenges in health care, education and economic development that affect minority communities, DePaulis said.

"He's up to speed on all the issues."

Soriano, who moved to Utah in 1989 for a job at Weber State University, said he plans to work on building a better relationship between the council and ethnic offices by making sure council members are involved and influential in state policy and programs. He wants to make sure the council's advice is valued by state agencies and officials.

"I want the council to become more important - to play a more important role," Soriano said in a phone interview.

In mid-May, former director Leo Gonzalez, a Republican, resigned from his job after 14 months in the office. Forty-two people applied for the director position and some six finalists were interviewed by state officials in mid-July.

Some Latinos question how effective Soriano will be as the office's director, mostly because the advisory council he led really hasn't been a voice for Latinos and initiating change, they say.

Gonzalo Palza said he resigned from the Hispanic council led by Soriano because he was frustrated that the group was not being responsive to Latino issues or included in decision-making. Palza said the Hispanic office and council cannot ignore that at least a third of Latinos statewide are undocumented immigrants. Still, Palza said if anyone knows about Latino concerns in Utah, it should be Soriano because of his council experience.

"In his new position, I would hope he would find effective ways to outreach and serve those needs of the community," he said.

Tony Yapias, a former Hispanic affairs director, said he wasn't surprised with the appointment because of Soriano's ties to the ethnic office.

Soriano said he and and Luz Robles, the ethnic affairs director, sit on two community boards together. He said he met Robles some six years ago when she was a University of Utah student, and the two have gotten to know each other by working together in the community.

Soriano said he's looking forward to doing more as director than a volunteer council chairman because he'll be working full time and be able to devote his time to community concerns. He'll also have access to state resources, a budget and officials.

"While the council advises, the office can be more proactive in activities," Soriano said.

Soriano said his annual salary will be in the $60,000s. He jokes that he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

"I find it impossible to sit still," he said. "I just have to be doing something."

jsanchez@sltrib.com

* AGE: 73

* NEW JOB: Director of Utah's Office of Hispanic/Latino Affairs

* OLD JOB: Director of University of Utah Health Sciences Ethnic Minority Affairs Office

* EDUCATION: Michigan State University - master's degrees in education administration and Spanish; bachelor's degree in political science

* PARTY: Republican

* FAMILY: Wife of 30 years, Barbara; six grown children; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild

Jesse Soriano