AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci continues to reshape the top of his administration heading into a second term.

On Monday, Baldacci nominated Michael Cantara, the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, for a District Court judgeship. No replacement for Cantara has been named.

The governor also announced that former House Speaker John Richardson would take over at the Department of Economic and Community Development. Richardson will replace Jack Cashman, who’s moving from DECD into the governor’s office as a top aide on economic issues.

Four others were also nominated to the judiciary, and Maine District Court Chief Judge Vendean Vafiades was nominated to the Public Utilities Commission.

Richardson’s appointment may have been the worst kept secret in state government this year. Rumors that Richardson, 49, would join Baldacci’s administration have been swirling since the summer, but the speculation didn’t turn into fact until this week.

“John Richardson is uniquely qualified to head this vital department,” Baldacci said Monday in making the nomination. “I am pleased that he will dedicate his significant knowledge, leadership, experience and skills to the efforts to increase Maine’s competitiveness in the global economy.”

Term limits prevented Richardson, a Brunswick Democrat, from seeking re-election. During eight years in the House of Representatives, Richardson served on the Banking and Insurance Committee and then was chairman of the Business and Economic Development Committee before being elected majority leader and then speaker.

As speaker, Richardson worked with other lawmakers on a small business-friendly legislative agenda that led to the creation of a commercial and consumer court in the state. He also held a series of economic development forums around the state, including one in October in Farmington.

“I think I have a skill set that’s unique and necessary in moving forward the governor’s agenda on economic development, which is very similar to mine,” Richardson said.

The most important job for the commissioner, Richardson said, is to work with the governor to develop an overall vision of what economic development should look like in Maine.

Part of that is taking the best ideas about the creative economy, smart growth initiatives and investment in research and development and job growth and implementing them, Richardson said.

“I’m excited and optimistic about the future,” Richardson said.

Richardson’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.

Cantara was the district attorney in York County for 12 years before his appointment to head Public Safety. The Colby College and University of Maine School of Law graduate is also the former mayor of Biddeford.

Andrew Horton of Falmouth was nominated for the Superior Court. He has served since 1999 as a District Court judge.

Nominated for seats on the District Court bench are Valerie Stanfill of Turner, who’s a trial lawyer with Troubh & Heisler; Charles Dow of Winthrop, who’s a special assistant to the attorney general; and MaryGay Kennedy of Brunswick, who’s a partner at Germani & Riggle.

Vafiades resigned as a judge to accept the nomination for the PUC. If confirmed by the Senate, she will replace Commissioner Stephen Diamond.

Vafiades was the first executive director of the Maine Science and Technology Board and has served as the chief legal counsel and policy advisor to the attorney general. She joined the court in 1997 and was named chief judge in 2002.

“She is a fair adjudicator, and she possesses an agile intellect,” Baldacci said in announcing her nomination. “Much is changing in the energy and telecommunications industries. We are fortunate to be able to add Judge Vafiades to the Maine PUC.”