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WASHINGTON — As general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Daniel Grabauskas was in charge of the nation’s oldest and fifth-largest public transit system. Now, he’s poised to take the helm of one of the nation’s newest rail systems as CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

But Grabauskas’ government work hasn’t always been focused on transportation. His in the public sector includes working as chief of staff for two state senators in Massachusetts, both of them Republicans like him. He also served as chief of staff for two state offices, Economic Development and Health and Human Services.

Later, as head of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, Grabauskas cultivated a “Mr. Fix-it” image, . Under Grabauskas’ direction, an agency that once swallowed up three hours of customers’ time was transformed into “a place with Wal-Mart-style greeters at the door, a modern computer system, and 15-minute waiting times,” the newspaper reported.

Grabauskas, who’s in his late 40s, has also had his own political ambitions.

A decade ago, he ran for Massachusetts treasurer, a politically influential position that is often a stepping stone to the governor’s office. Grabauskas won the 2002 Republican primary, but lost to Democrat Tim Cahill by 10 percentage points in the general election. Much like in Hawaii, Republicans face an uphill battle getting elected in solidly Democratic Massachusetts.

In his campaign, Grabauskas described himself as a “good-government Republican” rather than a “no-government Republican,” according to a 2002 article in , a student newspaper at Holy Cross, his alma mater.

The Boston Phoenix touted his management skills in Grabauskas. It also emphasized his understanding of “the value of avoiding even the appearance of conflicts of interest,” and his commitment to transparency. One example the newspaper gave was Grabauskas’ proposal to post information about state finances online — including details about revenues collected, pension-fund returns and local aid distribution.

During his race, Grabauskas emphasized his record at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and his skills as a manager.

He was so sure about the public’s confidence in his RMV leadership that he listed “Former Registrar of Motor Vehicles” under his name on the 2002 ballot, .

The 2002 race also stirred up controversy about Grabauskas’ leadership at the RMV. Cahill reminded voters of the following string of incidents that he said illustrated Grabauskas’ “look-the-other-way management style,” :

• A state audit accused Grabauskas of waste for paying nearly $11 million to tech consultants
• Reports of registry workers selling phony licenses
• A registry worker was involved in creating unauthorized vanity plates

After his failed bid for treasurer, then-Gov. Mitt Romney appointed Grabauskas to be his transportation secretary, which also made him chairman of the MBTA board of directors. When he took over as general manager of the system in 2005, even his supporters acknowledged that the position would be a challenge.

According to a of Grabauskas in CommonWealth Magazine, his former campaign manager Stephen Doody likened the RMV to Triple-A baseball, and the MBTA as “the big leagues.”

At the time, Grabauskas’ reputation was sterling: He was known for being affable and articulate. One Boston Globe reporter described him as so polished that it looked as though “he sleeps in a pressed shirt and necktie.”

He didn’t shy away from television cameras, and took steps to communicate directly with the public. One example: In a with Boston Globe readers, he encouraged members of the public to email him directly with questions and safety concerns.

But by 2008, Grabauskas’ positive public image was beginning to fade. In addition to the many transit system problems he inherited, he was criticized for his handling of two train crashes.

A that the MBTA had a “lack of safety culture” under Grabauskas’ leadership.

One Boston Globe reporter as one of the “fatted calves” left over from the Republican administration, and his ouster as a politically motivated check mark on Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick’s “hit list.” Patrick’s handling of transportation issues in the state has been volatile: He has gone through four transportation secretaries in as many years.

In 2006, Grabauskas told CommonWealth Magazine that “the burnout rate is pretty high” among MBTA chiefs. At the time of his 2009 resignation, Boston’s State House News Service quoted him as saying “the head of any major transit agencies rarely exceeds five years.”

If confirmed on Thursday, his contract with HART would be for three years.