Who's Your Candidate?

Linda S. Watson (Photo by John Anderson)

The Capital Metro board is set to select the agency's new chief executive officer/president this week, possibly today (Thursday). Here are snapshots of the two finalists.

Linda S. Watson

Current Position: CEO, Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (2004-present)

Previous Experience:

• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (1996-2004): general manager

• Fort Worth Transportation Authority (1982-1996): assistant general manager, manager of development, deputy manager of administration, administrative assistant for the general manager

Pros:

Experience as top dog, continuously, since 1996.

Serious demeanor.

Cons:

Has she been a transit insider for too long?

Maybe too reserved – is she ready for Austin's combative public culture?

Deborah Wathen Finn

Deborah Wathen Finn (Photo by John Anderson)

Current Position: president, the Wathen Group LLC (2009–present)

Previous Experience:

• CH2M Hill (2005-2009): senior vice president and global director for transit and rail

• HNTB Corporation (2001-2005): vice president and officer in charge

• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (1998-2001): director of surface transportation

• NJ Transit (1990-1998): chief of staff for rail operations, superintendent of the Raritan Valley Line

• The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (1982-1990): manager of environmental scanning, chief administrative officer

• New Jersey Department of Transportation (1979-1981): executive assistant to the commissioner

Pros:

Experience with rail, a major initiative for Cap Metro right now.

Personality is very energetic and engaging.

Cons:

Never been the head honcho of a transit agency, although she was very near the top.

Personality might strike some as all show.