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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLEARWATER, Fla. (Sept. 20, 2021) – Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors ended its search for a new leader today after voting 7-1 to enter contract negotiations with Mr. Charles H. "Chuck" Carden to become the utility’s next general manager.

If negotiations are successful, the board of directors will approve the contract at its October 18 meeting making Mr. Carden Tampa Bay Water’s fourth leader since it was created in 1998.

“I’m very proud today to sit here as your new general manager,” said Carden. “I’m humbly appreciative of this opportunity and will work hard to move us forward.”

Mr. Carden has served as the utility’s interim general manager since December 2020. Prior to this role, Mr. Carden was the utility’s chief operating officer. In his more than 28 years with Tampa Bay Water, Mr. Carden managed construction of more than $1 billion in infrastructure and pipelines, including the region’s first alternative water supplies. For a full bio, please visit https://www.tampabaywater.org/Agency/Executive-Team/Charles-Carden.

“He understands the past and the importance of what that means for today; he has a vested interest and an emotional tie to this organization,” said Pinellas County Commissioner and Tampa Bay Water Board Chairman, Dave Eggers. “He knows the challenges that are ahead of us and that we’re going to have to do things a little differently if we’re going to continue to be an elite organization.”

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org.