Delaware attorney named executive director of DRBA

Scott A. Green, a Rehoboth Beach, Del., lawyer, was appointed Tuesday to be the executive director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.

Green, currently a member of the DRBA board, will replace James T. Johnson Jr., who has held the job for 10 years. Johnson, 56, will retire from the bistate DRBA "to pursue other opportunities" effective April 2, the agency said Tuesday.

Green will be paid $190,000 a year. Johnson's salary was $197,000.

Green, 55, is a former executive with MBNA America. He is a former county attorney for New Castle County and is a member of the board of trustees of the University of Delaware. He was appointed to the DRBA board by Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, a Democrat, in April 2009.

Green said in a statement that he was "honored that Gov. Markell and Gov. Christie have confidence in me to lead this vital transportation organization. . . ."

"Like the country, the DRBA faces significant challenges, but working together as a team, we can turn those challenges into opportunities."

With an $80 million annual budget, the DRBA owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge that links New Jersey and Delaware, and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry as well as five airports and the Salem Business Centre in Carneys Point. Most of its revenue comes from bridge tolls.

Johnson took over a position mired in scandal 10 years ago. His predecessor, Michael Harkins, resigned in disgrace and eventually went to jail for using DRBA aircraft and credit cards for his personal benefit. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and to filing a false tax return.

One of the prosecutors involved in that investigation was Christie, then U.S. attorney for New Jersey.