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Governor names 7 to casino control commissionOct 08, 2010 (The Columbus Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The labor leader who gave Gov. Ted Strickland his first campaign contribution for governor and the lawyer who defended his public safety director are among the seven named to the new state casino control commission, a post paying $60,000 a year. Among the appointees: Ohio AFL-CIO President Joseph Rugola. On May 12, 2005, Rugola gave $10,000 to launch the Democrat's bid for governor. He has served as the executive director of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees for 19 years. Strickland also picked Charles "Rocky" Saxbe, a Republican who endorsed him in 2006 and represented Cathy Collins-Taylor, the state safety director denied Senate confirmation earlier this year. "My goal in appointing members to the Ohio Casino Control Commission was to establish a commission that reflects Ohio values and that will make sure the industry operates with integrity in Ohio," Strickland said in a release. "While these individuals all share a high degree of personal integrity and professional expertise, their diverse backgrounds will provide for unique perspectives that will serve the Commission well in the critical months to come." The selections are subject to approval by the Ohio Senate. The other five: The appointments must include one certified public accountant, one person experienced in law enforcement, one attorney and one person residing in a county with a casino, the governor's office said. All seven of the governor's appointees live in a county with a casino, ensuring each of the communities in which casinos will be built, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, are represented on the commission, the Strickland release said. To see more of The Columbus Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.columbusdispatch.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |