Wicomico County’s deputy attorney has resigned, bringing to four the number of key positions vacated since late last week.

Maureen Lanigan Howarth announced her departure this week and accepted the position of attorney for Worcester County, replacing the retiring Sonny Bloxom.

Howarth will remain at her job in Wicomico County until Nov. 6, then  begin working at the courthouse in Snow Hill  on Nov. 8.

County Executive Bob Culver announced her resignation Thursday, stating in a brief news release, “I wish Mrs. Howarth the best in her future endeavors.”

Howarth has been the county’s senior legal representative since longtime County Attorney Ed Baker retired July 1. Previously Baker’s deputy, Howarth has assumed Baker’s chair in county meetings.

Quitting before Lanigan, since last Thursday, were Sharon Morris, assistant director of administration who had been with the county 29 years; Andy Wisk, acting director of Recreation and Parks; and Rick Konrad, purchasing agent.

There was talk that Lanigan had also resigned, but Culver, early this week, said only that she was still with the county.

Culver has said several times since his election that he prefers to reconfigure the county’s legal operations, returning to a format in which the county hired outside counsel on a retainer basis.

Howarth graduated from James Madison University, with a business bachelor of arts degree in accounting in 2004, according to a news release from the Worcester County Commissioners’ office.

In 2007, she graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law with a law degree.

She served as a law clerk for Wicomico County Circuit Court Judge Donald C. Davis.

She has eight years of legal experience in county government and served as an assistant county attorney for Wicomico County from 2008 to 2012, when she took over as deputy county attorney.

"I'm looking forward to joining the Worcester County team and serving as their county attorney,” Howarth stated in the news release from Worcester County.

“Working in the field of local government gives me an opportunity to provide legal counsel on a variety of issues and offers me the opportunity to give back to the community I call home,” the  Ocean City  resident stated.

Bloxom, of Pocomoke City, will retire Dec. 18. He has been county attorney since 2008 and was also Worcester County commissioner from 1990 to 1995 and 1998 to 2006.