Laurel, Maryland – July 15, 2009: The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) announced today that Gene Counihan of Montgomery County is the new Chair of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. Counihan, who served in the Maryland legislature from 1983 to 1995, was appointed to the Commission from Montgomery County in October 2007 and served as WSSC’s Vice Chair from June 2008 to July 2009. He is also the former Maryland Government Relations Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
Counihan was unanimously elected by WSSC’s Commissioners. He succeeds outgoing chair Joyce Starks, who was elected Vice Chair. “We will soon have a new general manager and new officers,” said Counihan. “It is time for cooperation and collaboration to sharpen our focus on our mission. We will work together - Commissioners, General Manager, staff and the counties - to address our critical needs.”
Counihan continued, “We must be a strong team working together if we are to be successful in obtaining the funds we need to replace aging pipes. We must remain faithful to our commitment to provide our customers, the citizens of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, with safe water and environmentally sound sewer services every day.”
Six Commissioners govern WSSC. Three are Montgomery County residents – Chair Counihan, Adrienne Mandel and Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr.; three are Prince George’s County residents – Joyce Starks, Prem Agarwal and Dr. Juanita Miller. They are appointed to four-year terms by their respective county executives and are confirmed by their county councils.
WSSC Water is the proud provider of safe, seamless and satisfying water services, making the essential possible every day for our neighbors in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. We work to deliver our best because it’s what our customers expect and deserve.