It has taken so long because the mayor was looking for the right person, according to the chief of staff. Turns out, that person was sitting across the hall. The mayor tapped senior adviser D.J. Baxter.

"He's the best person to take that position," said Chief of Staff Sam Guevara, acknowledging that the vacancy has taken a toll. "There's just a lot of different opportunities out there that have slowed down while we were getting the director."

Baxter, who said it has taken time for him to transition to the RDA because he was wrapping up other city projects, called it a "wonderful opportunity."

While the RDA is known for large, multimillion-dollar projects downtown, Baxter wants to explore how it can help support neighborhood efforts. He pointed to the RDA's work with displaced Sugar House retail tenants - who are being booted from the Granite Furniture block to make way for a new development - as an example.

The City Council is expected to confirm Baxter on Tuesday.

"I've worked well with D.J. in the past and certainly am optimistic about his appointment," said Councilman Carlton Christensen, chairman of the RDA board.

Council members know Baxter well. He has been Anderson's adviser nearly from the beginning of the mayor's first term in 2000.

Baxter has mainly worked on transportation issues, from building the transit hub near The Gateway to working out an agreement with Union Pacific to eliminate freight trains from the 900 South railroad tracks. He took charge of the open-space plan for the east side of Library Square and worked with the city's lobbyist in Washington.

Baxter, who will make $105,000, according to Guevara, replaces Dave Oka, who quit to work in North Las Vegas.

Anderson already has replaced Baxter, hiring Janneke House, who worked on Salt Lake County's Zoo, Arts and Parks program. Backed by Anderson, House ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2005 against Eric Jergensen. House will earn $70,000.

Several City Hall posts have turned over since Anderson announced last year he would not seek a third term.

Baxter hopes to stay on when a new mayor takes office in January. "The RDA," Baxter said, "is one of the arms of the city that has an enormous capacity for influencing how the city develops."

hmay@sltrib.com