MINETA REPLACES KEY ADVISOR FROM WITHIN

MINETA REPLACES KEY ADVISOR FROM WITHIN    U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has promoted Martin Whitmer Jr. to deputy chief of staff for, the department announced Wednesday.
   In addition to Whitmer's role managing the secretary's agenda, he will be in charge of working with Congress on reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the multiyear surface transportation spending plan due to expire at the end of September.
   Whitmer replaces Vincent Taylor, who last month became the assistant secretary for administrations at DOT. He previously was an assistant to the secretary for policy, focusing on highway, transit, energy, motor carrier and safety issues.