Lottery Vp Fired For ‘lost Confidence’
by October 12, 2011 7:00 pm 78 views
The Arkansas Times and several other news outlets report that Arkansas Lottery VP Ernestine Middleton was fired from her position due to a lack of confidence in her job performance.
Middleton oversaw the lottery’s operations and administration, which have been the subject of a number of unfavorable audits and news reports.
Max Brantley with the Arkansas Times reports:
The Arkansas Lottery Commission today (Wed., Oct. 12) released documents that show Ernestine Middleton was fired as vice president of administration because interim lottery director Julie Baldridge told her in a brief memo she had "lost confidence in her ability to perform to the level this agency will need going forward." The note cited past audit exceptions still being addressed after nine months and new tax issues (a $100,000 penalty assessed by the IRS for late payments) and noted that these matters fell on the administrative side.
Baldridge offered her the opportunity to resign, but apparently Middleton didn’t take that option.
The documents, released under an FOI request, show Middleton knew her time was short. She wrote a memo Oct. 5 about preparing separation documents.
"Although I am not resigning from my position, it is obvious from the disregard for me personally and professionally (not informed of staff changes under my responsibility, not copied on e-mails to my direct reports, not included on meetings with my direct reports, requests for direction from the interim director ignore, etc.). I am being pressured to leave."
You can read more at this link.