Gene W. Counihan Elected New WSSC Commission Chair

Laurel – June 19, 2013: Gene W. Counihan is the new Chair of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. Counihan, a member of the WSSC Commission representing Montgomery County since 2007, was elected to the position during today’s Commission meeting. He previously served in this role in 2009 and his term lasts until June 2014.

He succeeds Chris Lawson, a Commissioner from Prince George’s County, who will now serve as the Vice Chair. Lawson joined the Commission in May 2011 serving as Vice Chair that year.

“As we enter a new fiscal year, the Commission is in good shape and improving,” says Counihan. “We will continue to focus on replacing aging infrastructure, embracing innovation and technology, ensuring quality water and outstanding customer service, preserving the environment and finding new ways to keep costs down.”

Counihan’s career includes elected and appointed positions in state, regional and county government and 29 years as a teacher and administrator in the Montgomery County Public Schools. He served over 12 years in the Maryland House of Delegates. After leaving the legislature in 1995, he served as a special assistant to Governor Parris Glendening before becoming the Maryland Government Relations Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). His numerous community leadership activities include serving on the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (Chair), the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, the Committee for Montgomery, the Board of Advisors at the Universities at Shady Grove and the Olney Theatre Center Board.

Six Commissioners govern WSSC, which has an annual $1.5 billion operating and capital budget. Three Commissioners are residents from Montgomery County and three are residents from Prince George’s County. The Commissioners are appointed to four-year terms by their respective county executives and are confirmed by their county councils.