Acting California Lottery Director Chon Gutierrez is resigning amid controversy created by Democrat lawmakers over the legality of California's recent entrance into the multi-state Mega Millions lotto game.
Gutierrez, who recently served as a Schwarzenegger administration troubleshooter on government reorganization, told his top staff members that he was going on vacation and then would retire after 34 years of state service in various capacities under multiple administrations.
Aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appointed Gutierrez acting lottery director, said they had not received an official resignation letter.
But sources close to Gutierrez confirmed his retirement plans on the condition they not be identified.
Gutierrez has scheduled an official announcement today.
The resignation comes amid controversy over California's participation in Mega Millions lotto, which was launched in June.
An anti-gambling group filed a lawsuit in July alleging that the game violates a voter-approved aspect of the state constitution, which authorized a lottery.
Democrat lawmakers, hoping to take advantage of an opportunity to criticize the Schwarzenegger administration, pushed the issue and later sponsored legislation legalizing the game.
Republicans pointed out that the redundant legislation was a political maneuver designed to create controversy.
I hope that CA gets a permanent director of the California Lottery to replace the acting director. I hope the new permanent director and the anti-gambling group filed a lawsuit in July alleging that the game violates a voter-approved aspect of the state constitution, which authorized a lottery to make CA stop playing Mega Millions for good. Besides in Proposition 37 in 1984 says that the CA should be playing their own games in that state and not go to a multi-state game. By stop playing MM, sales will fall for both MM and CA games, but also allows CA players to focus back on their state lotto game CA SLP.
California is the best thing to happen to Mega Millions since New York! I still can't understand why you don't want easy access to huge jackpots!
The phrase "acting director" takes on new meaning when it applies to CA.
First of all, the Lottery Act DOES NOT in any way prohibit CA from participating in a multi-state game. All the tickets are sold here and all monies received/paid here.
The Attorney General (who is a jerk) even agrees - the only one who doesn't are the Legislative attorney - you really believe he's going to tell one of his bosses he's wrong?
About time Chon left - the only good thing he did was make them invest the vendor savings they got in the new GTECH contract towards Scratcher prizes. Still, as screwed up as it (the Lottery) is, and as scrwed up as the Governor's appointments people are and as made as the Dems in the legislature are at the Lottery, don't look for anyone with any industry "chops" to apply for the job. They've been looking for a while and found no one. It will take real leadership to get them any progress from here - the unions run the place and only care about how to wring more money for people who don't want to work.
You want a good lottery? Should've hired me to be director. Ho boy, players would go hog wild for my games.
I guess now that the director is out of the picture the legislator can take all the credit for saving mega millions with new legislation and california can keep mega millions.