Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Tuesday replaced two state-agency directors, naming his long-time friend and former college roommate to run the state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department.

Schweitzer also named a new director at the Department of Public Health and Human Services, replacing director Joan Miles.

At Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Joe Maurier, who moved to Montana two years ago to head the State Parks Division within FWP, will replace Jeff Hagener, who was first appointed by Gov. Judy Martz in 2001. Schweitzer reappointed Hagener in 2004.

Maurier has run Montana’s state parks system since February of 2006. Prior to that, he worked 30 years with the Colorado state park system, retiring as deputy director in 2005.

Schweitzer and Maurier were roommates in the 1970s at Colorado State University. Maurier stayed at the governor’s mansion in 2006 when he was in Montana for his state parks job interview.

Replacing Miles on Tuesday was Anna Whiting-Sorrell, who had been Schweitzer’s policy adviser on families.

Both Maurier and Whiting-Sorrell will take over immediately as acting directors.

“It is an honor for me to appoint both Anna and Joe today,” Schweitzer said in a written statement Tuesday. “They are both tremendously qualified and will serve the state well in these positions. I also want to thank Joan Miles and Jeff Hagener for their service and commitment to the state and the people of Montana.”

The Schweitzer administration declined to say why Hagener and Miles are being replaced, saying it wouldn’t comment beyond its news release.

The appointments of Maurier and Whiting-Sorrell must be approved by the Republican-controlled state Senate next year.

Alden Downing, a spokeswoman for the Montana Republican Party, suggested Maurier’s appointment might face opposition.

“This person doesn’t seem to be the most qualified or experienced for this position,” she said.

“I think we can depend on the Senate to do the investigations and scrutiny and background checks to make sure this is the best person to take over such an integral department to our Montana way of life,” she said.

Senate President Bob Story, R-Park City, said Tuesday he would not issue any “blanket endorsement or blanket condemnation” of any of the governor’s cabinet selections.

“We’ll wait for their nominations to come up and let folks quiz them,” he said, adding that he couldn’t imagine they’d be rejected if they’re qualified applicants.

Miles told the Lee Newspapers State Bureau last week that she hoped to stay on as director at Public Health and Human Services and felt she had developed a good grasp of the workings of the state’s largest agency.

Yet on Monday, she said she was called to the Capitol to meet with the governor’s chief of staff and told she was out as director.

“They were very respectful and considerate,” she said. “The said they wanted to make the switch immediately rather than later.”

Miles said she was prepared to stay as director during Schweitzer’s second term, but didn’t presume she had the job.

“It’s the governor’s prerogative to make these choices,” she said. “I’ve seen plenty of governors change course for their second term. I’m proud of what I did at the agency, I’m proud of the people that I brought into this agency and I think we have a great team. I wish Anna Whiting-Sorrell and all of the people at (the agency) well.”

Miles, who has a law degree, a master’s degree in environmental studies and a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, served as director of the Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department for 11 years before joining the Schweitzer administration at Public Health in August 2005. She was named then to replace Robert Wynia, a Great Falls physician who resigned after only six months on the job. She’s also been a state representative.

Whiting-Sorrell has spent most of her career working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, where she is an enrolled member.

For nearly 10 years, she developed and ran a nationally-recognized substance abuse prevention program for the tribes, Schweitzer said. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Montana. She will earn $96,963.

Maurier had a 30-year career with the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, including serving as deputy director of the agency, which oversees 43 park and recreation areas.

He “was extremely well-respected and had high ethical values and a distinguished career,” said Deb Frazier, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

As head of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Maurier will earn $96,963.

Reporter Jennifer McKee: 447-4069 or jennifer.mckee@lee.net