Board of Commissioners elect leadership positions at MWRD

January 10, 2025

The nine-member Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has chosen three of their peers to continue serving leadership roles. President Kari K. Steele was elected president for a fourth term, Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn was elected for a second term, and Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia was elected by his peers for a third term.

MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, President Kari K. Steele and Chairman of Finance Marcelino Garcia were elected by their peers on the Board of Commissioners to serve as officers.

President Steele was elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2012 and re-elected in 2018 before being chosen by her colleagues in 2019 as the first chemist and African American female president elected in the history of the MWRD. She was nominated by Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis which was seconded by Commissioner Sharon Waller as president at the Jan. 9 Board of Commissioners' meeting and unanimously elected as president.

"I am honored to be nominated and unanimously elected for a fourth term by my fellow commissioners to lead the MWRD and continue our important work to treat our region's wastewater, manage stormwater, protect our waterways and the source our drinking water, Lake Michigan," said President Steele. "I appreciate my esteemed colleagues on the Board for their continued trust and support, our staff for their commitment and diligent hard work, and the collaboration of so many partners throughout Cook County striving to protect public health and the environment. As I always say, teamwork makes the dream work. Now let's get to work."

As a chemist, President Steele worked for more than 11 years for both the MWRD, as a water sampler and lab technician, and with the Chicago Department of Water Management before joining the Board of Commissioners. In 2023, she was selected to serve as a board member on the Public Building Commission of Chicago and as a trustee for the MWRD Retirement Fund.

Vice President Flynn, now in her second term since she was nominated and elected in June 2023, is in her first term on the Board of Commissioners since her election in 2022. Vice President Flynn was nominated by Commissioner Yumeka Brown and seconded by Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis for a second term.

"Although our votes count all the same across the Board and we work collaboratively, I am incredibly grateful to serve as vice president and so proud of the work we have accomplished to date protecting our water environment," said Vice President Flynn. "Thank you to the Board of Commissioners for placing me in this important role of leadership at the MWRD and to the residents across Cook County who rely on our essential services each day."

Prior to running for local office, Vice President Flynn was an employee of the MWRD, working in both Pollution Control and in the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant laboratory. Vice President Flynn has been a leading voice in clean water, protecting the waterways and flood mitigation, all central missions to the MWRD. Vice President Flynn became the first woman elected to the Crestwood Board of Trustees in 2011 and went on to serve three terms.

Having been elected commissioner in 2018, Chairman Garcia was elected as an officer for the third time. He first became chairman of finance in 2021. Chairman Garcia was nominated by Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda and seconded by Commissioner Cameron Davis.

"I thank my fellow commissioners for their partnership and trust to keep our agency moving forward," said Chairman Garcia. "I thank my staff and our Treasury, Finance and Human Resources departments who I have worked closely with these last few years. Without their support, knowledge and direction we could not continue to provide our services without raising taxes, seeking innovative sources of revenue and keeping our finances and bond rating at a high level. This is a communal effort led by President Steele and Executive Director Brian Perkovich and everyone in our facilities keeping our services running."

An attorney with expertise in local and international governments, healthcare and community affairs, Chairman Garcia works to connect all communities to resources to protect public health, a stable environment and economic opportunity. Now in second term on the Board of Commissioners, elected in 2018 and again in 2024, Chairman Garcia was a leader in expanding the MWRD's long-term vision through the creation of the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Under his leadership, in late 2024, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings assigned the MWRD with AAA and AA+ credit ratings respectively. Chairman Garcia brings a wealth of experience to the Board of Commissioners as director of community affairs for Cook County Health, the nation's third largest public health system.

The MWRD is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners, who are each elected at large and serve on a salaried, part-time basis. Three Commissioners are elected every two years for six-year terms. Biannually, the Board elects from its membership a president, vice president, and chairman of the Committee on Finance. The Board is responsible for establishing policies and procedures to protect the water environment for the citizens of Cook County, while also providing critical financial oversight of the MWRD in managing a $1.7 billion budget in 2025.

At its seven water reclamation plants throughout Cook County, the MWRD treats an average of 1.2 billion gallons of wastewater each day, transforming it into clean water that is returned to the environment. The MWRD serves 5.19 million people living in Chicago and 128 surrounding municipalities, while also protecting area waterways and Lake Michigan, and managing stormwater to mitigate flooding for Cook County.