Some community leaders question why Yvette Diaz, the executive director of Utah Department of Community and Culture, resigned just after only eight months on the job. Others are not surprised.
Diaz's resignation was one of three changes in state leadership announced by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. in a news release Wednesday.
As the first Latina to serve as a state department head, her appointment was trumpeted by Huntsman despite lingering controversy about Huntsman's first pick for the job, who quickly withdrew, and allegations that Diaz knowingly hired an undocumented nanny. An investigation by the governor's office cleared her, however, saying the nanny had given her false documents.
Diaz, a 33-year-old Republican, will return to her law career, she said in a news release. Her last day is Friday.
Many community leaders said they were shocked to hear the news, and some said they were disappointed to lose the only minority representative on the governor's 20-member Cabinet.
Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, said he wondered if Diaz resigned because of personal reasons or under pressure. Diaz is a qualified, articulate and respected leader, he said, so "I'd like to know why."
"It's so hard to get Latinos in these positions, and now that it had happened, it was a major coup that was short-lived," he said. "It was unfortunate."
Michael Clara, a Republican who sits on a governor's education committee where he worked with Diaz, said she was doing a good job of voicing the community's concerns to Huntsman and other state agencies.
But Leticia Medina, a Democrat and former director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs, said she was not surprised about Diaz's resignation because the Latino community "has felt like she could not represent them."
Medina said Diaz's resignation reflects poorly on all Latinos, whether or not Diaz was competent in her job, because some people will say a Latina was given a chance and failed.
"This Latino community has to work harder," Medina said. "No one's going to forget this."
Still, Medina said she hopes Huntsman considers a minority to replace Diaz.
Diaz did not return phone messages as of late Wednesday night.
In the news release, she said: "It has been an honor to be the first Latina to serve in the governor's Cabinet. I initially came on board to help Governor Huntsman set a course for DCC. Now that I have met that charge, I am returning to my legal career. I have appreciated the governor's support of this new department and his goal to elevate Utah's cultural heritage."
In January 2005, Huntsman appointed Sylvia Haro as the department head. She resigned a week later, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. Diaz started as the interim manager of the department, then called Community and Economic Development, later that month and assumed the executive director position on July 1, 2005, with an annual salary of $95,000.
Wednesday's news release also noted that Richard Bradford has resigned as director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
Jason Perry, deputy director of the state Department of Commerce, will replace Bradford, effective immediately. Bradford will serve as acting director of the community and culture department while a search to replace Diaz is conducted.
