Beebe's lottery picks
Gov. Mike Beebe today completed the appointment of the initial membership of the new state Lottery Commission. His picks:
George J. Hammons, Pine Bluff.
Hammons is Chair of Philander Smith College's Department of Chemistry and is a senior scientist at the National Center for Toxicological Research. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University, and has previously served on the Arkansas Racing Commission and the Bradley County Board of Election Commissioners. This appointment expires April 1, 2011.
Dianne Lamberth, Batesville.
Lamberth is secretary of the Lyon College Board of Trustees, is a former instructor at the college and has served as Chair of the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville Board of Visitors. Governor Beebe previously appointed her Chair of the Task Force for the 21st-Century Economy. This appointment expires April 1, 2015.
Ben Pickard, Beebe.
Pickard retired last year after 28 years as Vice Chancellor of Student Services at Arkansas State University-Beebe. He formerly served as Director of Financial Aid at the college, is a past president of the Arkansas Council on Student Services and was appointed by Governor Beebe to the Arkansas Student Loan Authority. This appointment expires April 1, 2013.
Comments
daAmn, that's an impressive group. Unless there's someone totally unknown to me, not a political hack in the group. Congrats Gov!
What about the other 6?
Posted by: 70%er![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 13, 2009 11:05 AM
Why not someone like Eric Jackson, GM at Oaklawn? He certainly has some knowledge of the gambling industry.
Posted by: scrapper72![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 13, 2009 11:40 AM
I notice the usual omission of west central Arkansas being represented.
Posted by: Cato![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 13, 2009 01:46 PM
Yes, indeed CONGRATS Guv! Finally some educators on the commission which oversees a program designed to benefit the state's higher education goals.
>>What about the other 6?<<
They were previously announced by Willis in the House and Bob Johnson, the Senate.
How's about a summary of the Lottery Commission appointees Max? You have all the info.
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 13, 2009 04:08 PM
Apparently excellent choices. Too bad nobody cared enough about the structure of this creature to pay attention to the fact that two-thirds of its members will be appointed by legislators. The Governor should have been making every one of these appointments, and they should serve at his pleasure.
This Lottery Beast will be a creature of the executive branch, like it or not. Instead, the Guv gets only three slots, has no administrative control, and the legislative hot shots get to appoint their friends, in-laws and business partners. Among the three appointers, the Governor is the only person elected by all the people, with the responsibility for making the state's machinery run right. Won't happen in this case.
We understand that neither Beebe nor the legislative leadership wanted the lottery, especially since it was Bill Halter's issue. Their petulant behavior in shunning Lt Gov Halter in their secretive crafting of the bill was petty and rude, made worse since they chose to ignore Halter's own research and extensive knowledge of the subject. By letting this thing hatch without keeping it under tight control, Beebe showed his Achilles' heel --that his entire governmental experience came from the pre-term limits legislature--and thus cast a blind eye to the potential mischief that can come from poor selections by legislative power brokers.
Better take a long look at the conflict of interest provisions. There is too much money involved not to have this honey pot attract a lot of flies...
Cuervo
Posted by: Cuervo![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 13, 2009 08:36 PM