Governor Tastes Defeat--Loses $1 in Lotto

Gov. Pete Wilson caught “the fever” like millions of other Californians on Wednesday and bought his first-ever Lotto ticket.

“If I win, I’ll give it back to the state,” said Wilson, whose Administration is facing a $12.6-billion revenue gap over the next 15 months. “We’re so hard up I’m willing to try anything.”

With a huge Lotto jackpot predicted--it reached a record $117.1 million by Wednesday night’s drawing--Wilson left a luncheon Cabinet meeting in the Capitol and walked two blocks to a popular restaurant and bar, Posey’s Cottage, to purchase a single $1 ticket.

“You’ve got to get in line, governor,” a patron told Wilson as he and a phalanx of aides and reporters headed straight for the cash register.

After waiting briefly, the governor bought a “quick pick” with the numbers: 7 20 37 38 51 53.

The winning numbers were 1, 7, 16, 19, 26, and 53. The bonus number was 52. The governor came up one number short of winning $4 on his $1 investment.

Wilson said he voted for the lottery proposal when it was on the 1984 ballot but had never purchased a ticket because “I’ve been busy.” Anyway, he said with a smile, “I’m not much of a gambler.”