Governor appoints new casino, lottery chiefs

Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 | 9:53 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed a longtime county judge on Thursday as the new executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, and a campaign leader for Republican state senators as director of the State Lottery Commission.

Ernest Yelton of Brazil, a Clay County Circuit Court judge for more than 25 years, will oversee the Gaming Commission, which licenses and regulates casinos in Indiana. Esther Schneider, who has a background in advertising and public relations and was director of the state Senate Majority Campaign Committee, will lead the state lottery.

Daniels said both would bring "complete integrity" to their jobs and "assure that when Hoosiers participate in these activities they can do so with confidence and fairness."

Yelton said one of his first tasks would be a thorough review of the Gaming Commission's decision to award a license allowing Donald Trump's casino company to operate a casino in southern Indiana's Orange County.

Schneider said she would seek to restore public confidence in the lottery following what prosecutors charge was a scheme by a former agency security officer to illegally cash in a winning $1 million scratch-off ticket.

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