Metro is changing even more. Peter Benjamin, the agency’s former chief financial officer and most recent chairman, announced Thursday that he, too, will be stepping down from the 14-member board of directors.
He said Maryland officials want a “clean slate” as they redirect the board following major criticism from outside groups. Colleagues at the committee meeting said the news left them speechless.
His departure marks the latest major upheaval in what has been the largest turnover in the board’s history.
- Arlington County representative Christopher Zimmerman, the longest serving board member, announced his resignation in December, surprising his colleagues.
- Maryland alternate and former Federal Transit Administrator Gordon Linton stepped down, as well.
- Then D.C. Councilman Jim Graham was replaced – unwillingly – by Councilman Tommy Wells.
- D.C. City Administrator Neil Albert lost his seat when D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s administration took over.
- Alternate Marcell Solomon was removed by Prince George’s County after The Washington Examiner reported he missed more than half of the board meetings during an 18-month period. A replacement has not been named.
- Elizabeth Hewlett has also said she would like to step down.
New faces have been taking their places, and Benjamin said he expected his slot to be filled quickly.
This latest changeover marks a loss of institutional knowledge, though, as Benjamin as been working for the agency for more than 20 years.
“Peter, I can’t remember when you weren’t here,” said D.C. representative Tom Downs. “And I go back quite a ways.”
Benjamin joined Metro in 1989 as a senior financial adviser, then worked his way up to CFO, a title he held from 1993 to 2006. He joined the board in 2007 and became the face of the agency as it grappled with the fallout of the June 22, 2009, crash investigation and chose Richard Sarles as chief executive officer.
