Interim Lottery Chief Says Operations Steady

After a tumultuous week of turnover, firings and resignations, interim Arkansas Lottery director Julie Baldridge says everything is a-okay.

Last week, director Ernie Passailaigue expedited his resignation and vice-president of gaming operations David Barden resigned. Later in the week, vice-president of administration Ernestine Middleton was fired. The moves left the Arkansas Lottery without its top 3 executives, all of whom came from South Carolina to start the lottery program from ground zero.

Baldridge addressed reporters after a Friday audit/legal committee meeting.

She tells John Lyon with our content partner, the Arkansas News Bureau, that the staff and operations are "doing great."

“Obviously it’s extra work for a lot of us, and part of that is just a change,” Baldridge said. “Whenever there’s a change everybody kind of regroups, and that takes a little time. But I don’t anticipate there being any difficulties. My goal is to make this operation a nice, even, level situation for the incoming director.”

Baldridge did not answer questions about Middleton’s firing, saying she would not comment on personnel matters.

You can read the full article here.