SEPTA - Governance

Governance

SEPTA is governed by a 15-member board of directors:

• The City of Philadelphia appoints two members: one member is appointed by the Mayor, the other by the City Council President. These two board members can veto any item that is approved by the full SEPTA board because the city represents more than two-thirds of SEPTA's local subsidy, fare revenue, and ridership. However, the veto may be overridden with the vote of at least 75% of the full board within 30 days.
• Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Montgomery County appoint two members each. These members are appointed by the county commissioners in Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery County and by the county council in Delaware County.
• The majority and minority leaders of the two houses of the Pennsylvania State Legislature (the Senate and the House of Representatives) appoint one member each, for a total of four members.
• The governor appoints one member.

The members of the SEPTA Board as of August 2010 are:

• Chairman – Pasquale T. Deon, Sr.
• Vice Chairman – James C. Schwartzman, Esq.
• Bucks County – Pasquale T. Deon, Sr., Charles H. Martin
• Chester County – Joseph E. Brion, Esq., Kevin L. Johnson, P.E.
• Delaware County – Thomas E. Babcock, Daniel J. Kubik
• Montgomery County – Thomas J. Ellis, Esq., Michael J. O'Donoghue, Esq.
• Philadelphia County – Beverly Coleman, Rina Cutler
• Governor Appointee – Denise J. Smyler, Esq.
• Senate Majority Leader Appointee – Stewart Greenleaf, Esq.
• Senate Minority Leader Appointee – James C. Schwartzman, Esq.
• House Majority Leader Appointee – Frank G. McCartney
• House Minority Leader Appointee – Herman M. Wooden

The day-to-day operations of SEPTA are handled by the general manager, who is appointed and hired by the board of directors. The general manager is assisted by nine department heads called assistant general managers.

The present general manager is Joseph M. Casey, who had served as the authority's chief financial officer/treasurer until his appointment as general manager in 2008. Past general managers include Faye L. M. Moore, Joseph T. Mack, John "Jack" Leary, Lou Gambaccini, and David L. Gunn. Past acting general managers include James Kilcur and Bill Stead.