BERLIN – A lawyer from Wicomico County has been hired to take over the position soon to be vacated by Worcester County Attorney Sonny Bloxom.

On Thursday, Worcester County officials announced that Maureen Lanigan Howarth, deputy county attorney for Wicomico County, will replace Bloxom as Worcester County’s attorney.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Worcester County team and serving as their county attorney,” Howarth said in a news release. “Working in the field of local government gives me an opportunity to give back to the community I call home.”

Howarth will come to Worcester County Nov. 9 after spending several years with Wicomico County. She served as assistant county attorney there from 2008 to 2012 before taking over as deputy county attorney.

Howarth, an Ocean City resident, graduated from James Madison University with a degree in accounting in 2004 and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2007.

Howarth will spend her initial weeks in Worcester County working with Bloxom, whose last day will be Dec. 18. The longtime attorney and former county commissioner will retire after nearly 40 years in the legal field.

“There comes a time when it’s time for the younger generation to step up and take over,” Bloxom said earlier this month.

According to Commissioner Joe Mitrecic, after the county advertised for a new attorney, four finalists were identified to be interviewed by the Worcester County Commissioners. They were interviewed in August and the commissioners agreed unanimously to offer the job to Howarth.

“It was a difficult decision,” Commissioner Chip Bertino said. “We were fortunate to have a slate of candidates who were very qualified.”

He said he believed Howarth’s years of government experience would serve her well in Worcester County.

“My hope and expectation is she’ll do a fantastic job,” Bertino said.

Mitrecic, too, believes Howarth will be a good fit for Worcester County.

“She’s been doing basically the same job in Wicomico County,” he said. “She’s local. She seems to have a great deal of energy and enthusiasm for the job.”