Former Valley Legislator Named to State Lottery Panel

Gov. Pete Wilson on Friday announced the appointment of former Republican Rep. Bobbi Fiedler to the California State Lottery Commission in a move that is designed to beef up the five-member oversight panel.

Fiedler’s appointment comes at a time when the California lottery is at a crossroads and the governor’s office is attempting to remake the commission into a more aggressive and active body.

In recent months, the commission, which sets policy for the lottery, has been accused by critics of rubber-stamping the wishes of former Director Sharon Sharp.

Sharp resigned last month after coming under fire for her handling of lucrative state contracts. At Sharp’s recommendation, the commission had awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts without receiving competitive bids.

Fiedler, 56, a Northridge business consultant, said Friday that her goal will be to “see that the lottery is managed as scrupulously as possible.”

She said her goal includes ensuring that the commission operates in the public interest and that qualified firms have the opportunity to bid for lottery contracts.

A conservative Republican who also serves on the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, Fiedler replaces former lottery commission Chairman John Price, whose term expired in November.

The governor is expected to make another appointment to fill the remaining vacancy on the commission in the next few weeks.