White appointed to lottery commission

Arkansas Speaker of the House Robbie Wills has appointed Joe White of Conway to a six-year term on the Arkansas Lottery Commission.

According to a press release, the commission will have nine members three chosen by Wills; three chosen by President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Sen. Bob Johnson; and three still to be announced by Gov. Mike Beebe. In addition to White, Wills chose Mike Malone of Fayetteville for a four-year term and Susan Ward-Jones, M.D. of Marion for a two-year term, the statement said.

White said he is on record as being a supporter of a state-run lottery to fund scholarships for higher education.

He said of the lottery commission, "We're going to form the lottery. The commission will be charged with the responsibility of forming the lottery, hiring an executive director, operating it with fairness and transparency.

"I was very honored that Speaker Wills saw fit to appoint me to the position. I certainly have long advocated our college-going rate in Arkansas, and this is a step in this direction. It will help a lot of our young people attend college."

Wills said in the press release, "Before making a decision on the three appointments reserved to the speaker, I established a criteria of honesty, integrity and state and community responsibility. These three appointees meet those criteria and more. I am confident each will work tirelessly to establish a lottery in which Arkansans will be proud to participate while making possible more scholarships for students who strive to meet the academic qualifications for a college education made possible by lottery proceeds."

Also according to the press release, the commission will "supervise, regulate and administer the operation of the lottery, the types of lottery games and tickets to be sold, as well as the amount of prizes awarded to winners. The commission will also oversee the scholarships funded by lottery net proceeds and the internal controls and audits necessary to provide to the public financial integrity and accountability."