Senate Commission OKs Michalko to Head Lottery
The Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday approved the appointment of Michael Michalko as director of the California Lottery Commission after he pledged to avoid “a hard sell” in advertising the games.
Michalko said television and radio advertising will focus on how the lottery is played and where to buy tickets. “What you will not see here is anything that would be offensive or be associated with a Madison Avenue approach, a hard sell,” Michalko told the Senate panel.
In its first official action on lottery appointments made by Gov. George Deukmejian, the committee also approved the nominations of former Sacramento County Dist. Atty. John M. Price and business executive Howard Varner of Pacific Palisades to the five-member commission, which will run the lottery.
The full Senate is expected to confirm them. The committee is expected to act on the three remaining commission nominees on Friday.
Michalko, 31, a former legal counsel for the Ohio lottery, will be paid $73,780 a year.
The first lottery games are scheduled to be held in late September or early October--well beyond the March 21 deadline specified in the initiative approved by voters last November.
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