Image courtesy WMATA.

UPDATE: Ward 6 D.C. Councilmember and WMATA board member Tommy Wells refutes O’Malley, stating that the board has “yet to officially make its GM pick.” Wells then added that it was “Nice of O’Malley to announce [the selection] based on a courtesy [meeting].” WMATA has not confirmed anything regarding the general manager decision at this time. Meanwhile, WTOP reporter Adam Tuss claims that O’Malley’s words — you can listen here — were taken out of context; Tuss contends that O’Malley did not intend to announce the decision, but simply meant that the decision to name Sarles was the board’s choice.

It would appear as if anyone listening to WTOP about half an hour ago got the chance to hear Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley make some news — the governor made the proclamation on air that Richard Sarles will, as heavily rumored, be named the new permanent general manager at WMATA. “Mr. Sarles is the choice of the board,” said O’Malley, who also endorsed the choice.

Of course, attempts to confirm this news by the Washington Post, among others, have fallen flat; WMATA board of directors chairman Peter Benjamin tells WaPo, “I don’t want to degrade from anything the governor has said, but there are still things that have to be done, and that’s not just the formality of having a press conference.”

Alrighty then. It appears as if there are two ways to interpret this news: you either take O’Malley at his word, or simply wait until January 27, when the board hopes to officially announce the new general manager.