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Lottery Commission Nominees Would Give a Quorum

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July 12, 2004 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has nominated two persons to serve on the V.I. Lottery Commission: St. Croix resident Kenrick E. Robertson and St. John resident Oswin A. Sewer Sr.
Robertson is director of renovations for the Health Department.
Sewer is project director and technician for the V.I. National Park.
Commission members serve four-year terms and require Senate confirmation.
Approval of the two nominees would give the seven-seat commission enough members to attain a quorum — four members — for the first time since 1997.
Eighteen months ago, Sens. Lorraine Berry and Usie Richards wrote the governor urging him to submit nominees for the five vacant seats on the commission. The only members at that time were Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull and Office of Management and Budget director Ira Mills, who both serve by virtue of their offices. (See "Fill Lottery Commission Seats, Governor Urged".)
In February 2003, the governor nominated and the Senate approved Cedric Swan, a St. Thomas resident, to serve on the board, bringing the membership to three.
Given the circumstances, the Legislature several years ago empowered the executive director to make decisions on behalf of the commission. The executive director at that time, Alex Dizon, pleaded guilty in District Court in 2001 to bilking the V.I. government out of $82,000. He was succeeded by Austin Andrews, who was fired by the governor in May 2003. Andrews was succeeded by Paul Flemming, the current executive director.
If Robertson and Sewer are approved, the two remaining vacancies by law must consist of licensed lottery dealers, one from each district. However, the board would be able to conduct business in the meantime any time that at least four of the five members were present.

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