Panel picks SC man as Ark. new lottery director (UALR Public Radio) - The Arkansas Lottery Commission has picked its first executive director, tapping the head of South Carolina's games to lead the state's nascent lottery.

After two and a half hours in executive session Friday, the commission announced it'd hired Ernie Passailaigue as executive director. The commission says he'll be paid $324,000, and that salary requires legislative approval.

Voters approved the games last November, and lawmakers spent months this spring setting up a framework for the lottery and the scholarship program it will fund. Officials have said they hope lottery tickets can be sold by the end of this year.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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