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RWA Taps Lawyer
Silverstone to replace Crawford as water co. CEO
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Business New Haven
12/11/2000
By: Michael C. Bingham
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David Silverstone of West Hartford has been named to succeed John Crawford as president and CEO of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. Silverstone's appointment will become effective January 1.
The 55-year-old Crawford is stepping down at the end of the month to assume a day-to-day role as CEO of the New Haven-based Aristotle Corp., which he has served as chairman for more than a decade. Aristotle is a holding company that, through its wholly owned subsidiary Simulaids Inc., manufactures health and medical education teaching aids. In September, Aristotle acquired 80 percent of the outstanding stock of Safe Passage International Inc., which develops and sells computer-based training products to corporate and governmental entities.
An attorney with 25 years of experience in public water utility issues, Silverstone has most recently served as group vice president and chief administrative officer for the Southern Connecticut Gas Co., which was last year acquired by Energy East Corp. of Albany, N.Y. Before joining the gas company in 1998, Silverstone practiced law privately, specializing in public utilities and environmental issues.
From 1980 to 1988 he served as consumer affairs counsel for the Regional Water Authority. He was Connecticut's first consumer counsel from 1974 to 1977 where he advocated on behalf of consumers on public utility issues.
According to Claire C. Bennitt, who chairs the water authority's governing board, “Mr. Silverstone's qualifications and experience in the water industry as well as in matters involving rate-payers and the environment clearly made him our first choice.”
“David brings strategic intellect, strong leadership and a unique set of consensus and team-building skills,” Bennitt said. Shortly after the water authority was created, Bennitt said, there were frequent rate cases and hefty increases confronting the organization. “As the first consumer affairs counsel, David developed a process of pulling together a team and working with people of diverse opinions to reach consensus.”
Silverstone was graduated from Lehigh University and received his law degree from Columbia University. He is a director of the Watershed Fund and is president of the Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Day School of Greater Hartford.
His compensation package was still under negotiation at press time. Crawford is paid an annual salary of $275,000.
The Regional Water Authority supplies water and related services to about 400,000 consumers in 12 south central Connecticut municipalities. It owns approximately 24,000 acres of watershed land and sells an water-related products and services.
Through its Whitney Water Center, the organization also provides water-science programs to some 16,000 students annually.
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