Iowa Lottery CEO Gets $81,000 Raise

Aug 9, 2004, 8:25 am (5 comments)

Iowa Lottery

The CEO of the Iowa Lottery has himself hit the jackpot.  Gov. Tom Vilsack awarded Ed Stanek an $81,000 raise, making him the second-highest paid state employee outside of the university system.

The raise brings Stanek's salary to $207,000 a year, which comes from lottery revenues, not taxes. The highest-paid employee is Dr. Julia Goodin, the state's chief medical examiner, who makes $220,417.

It was all part of a deal to make sure Stanek won't take early retirement this year. He said the $81,000 is a bargain compared to what the state would have to pay in his retirement and in the search for a replacement.

Stanek created the Powerball game and has run the Iowa Lottery since it began in 1985.

The 58-year-old Stanek said he hadnt received a pay raise in four years. "I was considerably underpaid and I am the senior lottery director in the country. I am known worldwide as the inventor of Powerball."

Lottery Post Staff

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johnph77's avatarjohnph77

Money from lottery revenues going into Mr. Stanek's pocket are not going to reach the areas for which lottery revenues are intended.

Did he earn the raise? Was it merited? Does longevity constitute merit?

Does any one any more understand the meaning of the word "extortion"? How about "piracy"? "Fraud, waste and abuse"?

Zeno's avatarZeno

 

I especially

johnph77's avatarjohnph77

And, in addition, he said the state will save money by not having to do an executive search for a new director. No one else on the commission knows his duties? He isn't, as a part of his job, training anyone to take over on his departure? How about the fact that now that he makes over $200,000 a year, who'd ever take the job for less, now that the state has shown its willingness to pay that much? How about the fact that, when Mr. Stanek does retire, his entitlement will be based on his higher salary? Saving money? For who?

The fact that the money is not coming from tax revenues but from the lottery is irrelevant. They are still public funds and someone needs to be held accountable for their expenditures.

I'll get off my soapbox for now.....

gl

john

Todd's avatarTodd

I half-agree with the points about his high salary, but at least you can say that the guy has earned his stripes.  Compare him to Rebecca Paul in Tennessee, and I think he deserves his raise more than she deserves her exorbitant paycheck.  He's been around for a while, and with that comes a degree of wisdom that is not easily replaceable.

CASH Only

Would the raise have been bigger if 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds were allowed to buy IA tickets?

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