LJWorld.com / Senate confirms Van Petten

Archive for Thursday, February 1, 2001

Appointment OK’d 37-1

By John Hanna, Associated Press Writer

February 1, 2001

Topeka — Some may still have questions about the Kansas Lottery, but senators have decided to let the agency's top official keep his job.

The Senate voted 37-1 on Wednesday to confirm Ed Van Petten's appointment as lottery executive director. Gov. Bill Graves named the former deputy attorney general to the post last September.

Legislators have grilled him since then about the security of lottery computer systems, allegations of sexual harassment by lottery employees, and pornography and inappropriate materials found on a few agency computers. Last week, he pulled a radio commercial that offended many legislators.

But Wednesday's vote suggested that most senators believe Van Petten has made progress in correcting past problems at the lottery.

"I think he has generally acquitted himself well in front of committees and come across as a no-nonsense administrator," said Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson.

Van Petten has told legislators that the lottery's computer systems are secure and employee misconduct, particularly sexual harassment, will be dealt with harshly.

"I think we have to convince the public that the message that we've been sending is truthful and correct," Van Petten said after the vote.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley cast the only negative vote, saying he wasn't confident Van Petten could fix the lottery's problems.

"There wasn't anything that transpired in hearings that gave me confidence in him," said Hensley, D-Topeka.

Two other Democrats, Jim Barone of Frontenac and David Haley of Kansas City, passed on the appointment. Both said they didn't want to indicate a lack of confidence in Van Petten though they have questions about the lottery's operations.

Seven of the 10 Democratic senators voted to confirm Van Petten's appointment, as did all 30 Republicans.

"The past is the past, and I'll look to the future," said Sen. Rip Gooch, D-Wichita.

Van Petten's confirmation comes as legislators also are considering the lottery's future. State law abolishes the lottery on July 1, 2002. The House plans to debate Monday a bill to extend the lottery's life for another six years.