Tarek Tomes is Minnesota's new commissioner of the state's information technology department.
He is the final cabinet appointee for Gov. Walz, who stressed that there are plenty of challenges ahead for Tomes as he takes over Minnesota IT Services from interim commissioner Bill Poirer.
That includes the state's troubled vehicle registration system MNLARS.
Alegislative auditor's report in February said the more than $100 million and nine years devoted to developing the system should have been sufficient to complete the project.
"The fear of failure means that you may not bring forth appropriate solutions that change people's lives for a tremendously conservative approach," said Tomes on Tuesday. "I think it's prudent upon us to bring all perspectives."
Tomes was most recently chief innovation officer for the City of St. Paul.
He says he'll wait for a report expected soon from a blue-ribbon panel before deciding on how to address MNLARS.