Arkansas Blog: So much for transparency

The state Lottery Commission called a hurryup meeting today. Chairman Ray Thornton promptly announced the commission would meet in secret to "discuss" the lottery director's job. Until now, the commission has just been taking applications and, in theory, the application period remains open.

The state law says "Executive sessions will be permitted only for the purpose of considering employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining or resignation of any public officer or employee. The specific purpose of the executive session shall be announced in public before going into executive session."

I don't think you can convene in private merely to "discuss" a job opening or the nature of a job. Gerard Matthews is on hand to see what's up.

UPDATE: Thornton emerged from the session before noon and said he wasn't pleased with the pool applicants. Many of the 55 applications reviewed, he said, weren't for the executive director's job. He said he was looking forward to reviewing the remaining applications.The commission has received 70 applications.

And he said this: "I am growing toward the view that lottery experience is very important."

UPDATE II: Check out the jump for a report on what happened at the Lottery Oversight Committee meeting at the capitol this afternoon including talk of bumping up the director's salary to attract stronger candidates. Also, another "emergency" meeting about the director search tomorrow. Hope they do it in public.

While taking questions from state legislators, Arkansas Lottery Commission Chairman Ray Thornton re-iterated the need for an executive director candidate with strong lottery experience. Thornton said that of the applications he had reviewed only four or five had previous lottery experience and even those did not hold top-level positions. Thornton told legislators that in order to attract a "first rate person" to the post, it might require additional funding, possibly bumping up the executive director's salary to $300,000.

Spending the extra money on salary would be justified, Thornton said, because they could get the lottery up and running sooner and start making money for scholarships. According to the legislation, the cap on the director's salary is $350,000.

Before taking questions, Thornton gave a brief presentation on the commission's activities so far. He defended the two-day work session the group had at Petit Jean saying, "Some people say this is a vacation place. But it is not a vacation place." He also said he was glad, especially given the pool of canddiates so far, that the commission had chosen a two-pronged director search (by application and nomination). He said that some of the commissioners have expressed interest in finding people who are interested in the job and might be recruited.

Sen. Terry Smith said it was important for the commission to move quickly so the people of the state did not lose confidence in the lottery as an institution. He said his concerns grew after seeing negative newspaper accounts and letters to the editor and feared the lottery might be losing some credibility.

After the meeting had adjourned Speaker of the House Robbie Wills said he had not heard any negative comments from his constituents but did say every day that goes by without a functioning lottery means a loss of scholarship money. He said he trusts the commission to make the right decision regarding the director search and understands they are working dilligently.

Thornton also mentioned briefly the commission's search for office space. That search has been put on hold until the executive director position is filled. According to Laura Gilson, an attorney with the Bureau of Legislative Research, the director search is now the commission's top priority.

In other business, the oversight committe voted to allow a line-item budget classification transer that would move $25,000 from "professional fees" to "conference and travel expenses." The transfer would allow commissioners to use the funds to pay conference fees before the end of the fiscal year. Rep. Barry Hyde, one of the chairs of the oversight committee, mentioned that the commission may be attending a conference in ~~July~~ the near future. Gilson said commissioners had been invited to attend the directors meeting of the National Association of State and Provincial Lotteries at the end of June. She said the conference would be an incredible opportunity for commissioners to hear about the experience of other lottery directors and to tour the headquarters of the Tennessee Lottery. That conference will be held June 22 - 25 in Nashville, TN. Gilson said that three or four commissioners might attend.

It seems as though the weak pool of applicants might serve as a motivating factor for commissioners to seek out stronger candidates. When asked about the need to increase the salary, Thornton said, "Well, the director of the Tennessee lottery makes about $1 million per year. She will not be applying for this job."

Comments

These clowns are assuring that if the U.S. created two new states tomorrow we would be 52nd.

Posted by: Roderick A. Bryan | June 4, 2009 11:10 AM

Did anyone really expect the lottery to be transparent? Speakers Wills and Co. promised transparency, sure, but that doesn't mean much.

Posted by: Libertus | June 4, 2009 11:54 AM

Indeed, "the lottery experience is very important."

Because it is we suggest finding an ED who has a knowledge of
lotteries, skills and experience to help them grow.

>>Many of the 55 applications reviewed, he said, weren't for the executive director's job.<<

Does this indicate the Commission will be hiring others BEFORE an executive director is hired?

Posted by: eLwood | June 4, 2009 12:27 PM

Oh for goodness' sake, who cares about anything so trivial as the lottery now when we can read all about that american idol person - i have already forgotten his name --- but I saw in the preview of the article about him that he had ribs surgically removed in junior high (for some reason that makes me queasy)........ Surely we can all see that this is much more important.

now back to that silly old lottery -- this was in the oklahoma paper today, i posted it in another thread but forgot which one.

>>>>

I wonder if any of this money could be expected to show up in the arkansas lottery if it ever got started, or is casino revenue totally a separate thing? I can see where going to the E-Z Mart to buy lottery tickets wouldnt exactly be an evening's entertainment, like going to throw money away in a glamorous casino.

But any way you look at it, $96 million in one year is a lot of money. it would be nice if we could keep some of that here; you know quite a bit of that comes from nw arkansas. why, dbi his ownself probably spent about as much as I did on going to the casinos in oklahoma in 2008. A nice round number, that.

Mr Bryan, this time, at least, I can say I agree with you 100%. What will they think of next -- now its hiring someone with lottery experience to run this new lottery thang! They might consider going next door and hiring someone from OK who has been involved in running the Indian casinos -- they do very well, of course it helps not paying any pesky taxes. I know lotteries are not casinos, and I know God dont like casinos at all, but these people have experience. I dont expect there are too many Arkies with experience in running lotteries, do you?

Posted by: tina | June 4, 2009 12:36 PM

Chalk up another big win for Bill Halter. Halter was the first and only politician to unabashedly say the Lottery Executive Director should have actual lottery experience. Now Ray Thorton seems to be doing the same thing.

Here's how it works with Halter from what I've noticed. Halter is always the first one to suggest an idea or way doing something when it comes to the lottery. Insiders will always say it's a bad idea and that Halter's ideas don't count. Then said insiders turn around and do EXACTLY what Halter suggested they do. It's amazing. For a guy never allowed into the meetings, Halter ends up setting their agenda and getting everything he wants. And every time legislators and insiders attack him, they end up making him more popular with the folks that count - the voters.

Posted by: voter galore | June 4, 2009 12:49 PM

galore is right on. While bitching about Blanche and other DINOs keep you eye of Bill Halter.

Posted by: eLwood | June 4, 2009 12:58 PM

"keep your eye on .."

damn!

eating dark chocolates and typing is not recommended.

Posted by: eLwood | June 4, 2009 01:00 PM

Lottery experience? Is he nuts? Someone might have ties to a lottery vendor! Get Cliff Hoofman on the phone ASAP. Better yet, in keeping with that spirit, do any former state senators have gambling problems?

Posted by: Prouster | June 4, 2009 01:08 PM

Prouster, now I think you're onto something here. Compulsive gambler?? Have we got a job for YOU!!!

and i do not mean to poke fun at anyone with a gambling problem. still, i think Prouster is on the right track here.

come on, eLwood -- eating ANY chocolates while doing ANYTHING is highly recommended for good health. You can't blame yourself for trying to take care of your health and type at the same time!

Posted by: tina | June 4, 2009 01:27 PM

Shocking!

Posted by: In THE Pines | June 4, 2009 02:03 PM

Hey, what about Lu? He needs a job!

Posted by: UncleEarl | June 4, 2009 02:39 PM

Boy, AR Bloggers are a tough crowd! The Lottery Commissioners haven't actually done anything yet deserving of a public flogging! Give them a chance at least!

Posted by: OPRA | June 5, 2009 12:37 AM

Are they gonna take credit cards???

Posted by: Roderick A. Bryan | June 5, 2009 11:47 AM

Arkansas Blog

So much for transparency

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