AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci, acknowledging his selection may not be universally popular but saying “there’s only one governor at a time,” announced veteran state finance expert John Nicholas on Thursday as his choice to head a super agency combining Maine’s two big social service departments.

At a news conference, Baldacci cast Nicholas as a person who could lead an agency administering human services and mental health programs that would be both family friendly and financially sound.

Nicholas, whose nomination has drawn criticism from the Senate chairman of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, told reporters his management style would be “inclusive.”

“I believe in team,” he said.

Previously Maine’s state budget officer from 1992 to 2002, Nicholas returned to state government last fall after a year as chief financial officer for Catholic Charities Maine and is currently the acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Human Services.

It is that department that Baldacci has proposed to combine with the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services, which operates and oversees mental health programs around the state.

Democratic Sen. Michael Brennan of Portland, the co-chairman of the Health and Human Services panel, said he was “very disappointed” by the governor’s decision.

Professing a “tremendous amount of respect for Jack Nicholas,” Brennan said he did not believe the governor’s choice had adequate grounding in issues pertaining to mental health, health care and other substantive areas that would be within the new department’s jurisdiction.

He also said Nicholas offered no expertise in organizational change.

“If I had to vote tomorrow, I would vote in opposition to the nomination,” Brennan said.

Sen. Neria Douglass, D-Auburn, said she also had concerns about Nicholas. “I’m encouraged there’s someone nominated who has a fiscally sound approach, but I also am dismayed. I see a need for a real culture change in DHS which takes a certain magnetic personality and leadership style. I’m not sure whether this is the individual who has that ability. It would be a very bad mistake to go in, chop up a lot of departments, run a lot of numbers and do budgetary things without addressing the culture of that organization.”

Sen. Richard Bennett, R-Norway, disagreed, saying Nicholas is a good choice and “is just what DHS needs now. … Jack’s got a lot of credibility in the Legislature. He knows where the bones are buried.”

The Health and Human Services Committee is expected to review the Nicholas nomination and make a recommendation to the state Senate, which would vote on whether to confirm the nominee.

Baldacci told reporters he regarded Nicholas as “not just a numbers person.”

At the same time, noting finance problems that have plagued the Human Services Department during his nearly 14 months as governor, Baldacci said it could only be beneficial to bolster “credibility and accountability.”

As proposed by the governor, a new Department of Health and Human Services would assume the duties of the current two departments.

The new department would include a new Bureau of Children and Families and a Health and Human Services Advisory Board consisting of nine members appointed by the governor would be established.

“This is not just a name change, but a new way of doing business,” Baldacci said.

If confirmed as DHS commissioner, Nicholas would oversee the merger, which is planned to be carried out over two years.

During a question-and-answer session, Nicholas made clear that he found the prospective job a major one.

“I do enjoy challenges,” Nicholas said.

Sun Journal writer Bonnie Washuk contributed to this report.