Governor won’t reappoint two who opposed riverboats

Nicole Ziegler Dizon

Monday, July 2, 2001 | 11:05 a.m.

CHICAGO -- Two members of the Illinois Gaming Board who provided key votes against building a new riverboat casino in Rosemont got their walking papers Friday from Gov. George Ryan.

Ryan announced that he would not reappoint East St. Louis attorney Staci Yandle and Springfield attorney Mac Ryder, who had both asked the governor to let them remain on the board when their terms ended in July.

Filling their slots are two Chicago-area businessmen, real estate developer Elzie L. Higginbottom and consultant Robert A. Mariano. Higginbottom, 59, is an ally of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, while Mariano, 51, is the former CEO of Dominick's Finer Foods.

"Elzie Higginbottom and Bob Mariano will bring fresh perspectives to the board grounded in their successful business careers," Ryan said in a statement.

Gambling opponents accused the governor of using the appointments to stack the deck in favor of bringing riverboat gambling to Rosemont, a Chicago suburb adjacent to O'Hare International Airport.

"Gov. George Ryan is sending a very clear message that if you don't go along with what I send you, I'm going to replace you," said Tom Grey, the Rockford-based executive director of the National Coalition Against Gambling.

Ryan signed the 1999 law that paved the way for Emerald Casino Inc. to move its license from a failed East Dubuque site to Rosemont. The law said the Gaming Board "shall" approve the move, but board members decided it didn't override their licensing authority and ultimately voted against Emerald.

Higginbottom and Mariano both said Friday that they do not come to the board with any preconceived notions, including on the Emerald case.

"I think what people will tell you is that I'm a pretty independent thinker," Higginbottom said.

Mariano acknowledged that he may have a difficult time overcoming the perception that his appointment to the board was a political move.

"There can always be the perception that something isn't right or is awry," Mariano said. "You can't be willing to bend to those who are pro or those who are con. You have to look at the facts presented to you."

Ryder said Friday that he was disappointed by the governor's decision.

"I thought that we were making the correct decisions and that our work was very important," Ryder said.

Higginbottom, the chairman and CEO of East Lake Management and Development Corp. in Chicago, also serves as co-chairman of Ryan's Workforce Investment Board. He is a close friend of Daley's and an important ally for the mayor in Chicago's black community.

Many of the minority investors in the Emerald casino are connected to Daley.

Mariano runs La Cucina Mariano, a food service consulting firm in Lake Forest.

Ryan spokesman Dennis Culloton said Ryder and Yandle both did fine work, but the governor simply wanted to bring "new energy, enthusiasm and ideas" to the board. He said Ryan has never talked to board members about their votes nor tried to influence them.

Yandle has served on the board since October 1999, while Ryder was appointed in February 2000.

Ryan has replaced three of five members who were on the board during the Emerald vote. Ira Rogal, a partner in a suburban Chicago lobbying firm, was appointed to the board in April. He replaced Joseph Lamendella, who resigned after casting the lone vote in favor of the Emerald move.