Politics & Government

Final Members of Gaming Commission Appointed

The five-member committee is now complete and ready to move forward with business, the Governor said Tuesday.

Press release from the office of Governor Deval Patrick:

Governor Deval Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley and Treasurer Steve Grossman announced the final two appointments to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Tuesday.

The members round out the five member independent body which will be responsible for implementing and overseeing the expanded gaming industry in the Commonwealth.

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The final two appointees are James F. McHugh, retired associate justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court; and Bruce Stebbins, business development administrator for the City of Springfield. Both appointees will serve as full time commissioners.

“With these last two appointments, the Gaming Commission is strong, complete and ready to get on with the business of creating jobs for Massachusetts,” said Governor Patrick. “James McHugh and Bruce Stebbins are excellent additions and I look forward to the thoughtful discharge of the work the commission has before it.”

“I’m confident that these commissioners will oversee the introduction of gaming in Massachusetts with a focus on fiscal discipline and accountability, as well as with the ethics and integrity that have been the hallmark of their respective careers,” Treasurer Grossman said.

The commission will now move forward with its business of hiring staff, establishing an office, hosting public meetings and soliciting bids for up to three commercial casino licenses and one slots facility. Licenses must be competitively bid and awarded following local approval, under the rules of the Expanded Gaming Act signed by Governor Patrick on November 22, 2011.

Separate from the commission, the Administration has hired a specialized law firm and financial advisor – both of which are currently assisting in the negotiation of a Native American gaming compact for a casino on tribal lands in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Governor Patrick appointed Steve Crosby as chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on December 13, 2011. In February, Attorney General Coakley selected former New Jersey Lieutenant Colonel Gayle Cameron as the Attorney General’s law enforcement appointee to the Commission. Last week, Treasurer Grossman selected Enrique Zuniga as the Treasurer’s corporate finance and securities appointee. In order to ensure the strongest possible commission, Justice McHugh will now serve as the Attorney General’s law enforcement appointee, and Lieutenant Colonel Cameron will now serve as the joint appointee with legal experience related to gaming. Stebbins will serve as the final joint appointee.

All costs of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will be borne by the gaming industry itself and will not be paid for by Massachusetts taxpayers.

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