Mich. Lottery Chief Considers California Post

Michigan lottery chief Michael Carr said today he is again considering the job of running California’s game even though he was overlooked initially because Gov. George Deukmejian’s aides lost his application.

Carr, who like Deukmejian voted against a lottery in his state, said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press that the governor’s aides contacted him Friday and admitted that they had lost the application of the only lottery director to apply.

“I’m interested in at least discussing the situation . . . and exploring whatever the possibilities are in California. . . . We had a very general discussion. No job has been offered,” Carr said.

“There would have to be a lot of further discussion. A lot of further consideration,” he said.

The $73,780 annual salary of the California lottery director would be “more than I make here, but it may not be enough different to warrant a move. That’s something I have to take into consideration,” said Carr, who currently is paid $56,000 a year.

Have to Move Family

Carr, a 48-year-old former county clerk in Michigan, said he would have to move a family that includes three children living at home to California, where expenses are higher.

Under Carr’s leadership during the past two years, Michigan’s lottery has added lucrative Lotto games that are expected to increase total annual sales by about 50% to an estimated $850 million this fiscal year. There are about 9 million people in the state.

Deukmejian’s aides said Thursday that they had overlooked an application from a lottery director in another state while searching for a California lottery chief.

Deukmejian spokesman Larry Thomas refused to identify the applicant, but it was learned that the application came from Carr.