Two Top Lottery Execs Leave Early

After leading the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery to a start-up ahead of schedule, director Ernie Passailaigue left his post ahead of schedule too.

Today, Passailaigue sent word through commission chair Dianne Lamberth that his resignation was effective today (Oct. 3), not Oct. 7 as previously expected.

Also vice-president David Barden, who came from South Carolina with Passailaigue, announced he would step down effective immediately.

John Lyon with our content partner, the Arkansas News Bureau, reports:

Arkansas lottery officials said today that one of the lottery’s two vice presidents has resigned and the lottery director has quit ahead of schedule.

David Barden, the lottery’s vice president of gaming operations, submitted a letter of resignation Friday, effective at the end of that day, Arkansas Lottery Commission Chairman Dianne Lamberth said at a meeting of the commission’s personnel committee.

Lamberth read letters from Barden and from Lottery Director Ernie Passailaigue, who advised that he was making his resignation effective today. He had been scheduled to work until Friday.

Neither of the men attended today’s meeting.

You can read the full report at this link.