TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Gov. Laura Kelly has named the Kansas Lottery’s top attorney to serve as its interim executive director.
The new Democratic governor announced Wednesday that Stephen Durrell will lead the agency. He has worked at the lottery since 2007, serving as its general counsel and an assistant Kansas attorney general assigned to the agency.
Durrell also served previously as an assistant attorney general assigned to the state Racing and Gaming Commission.
The lottery operates its games of chance and oversees four state-owned casinos through contracts with private management companies. Kelly’s office said Durrell was involved in negotiating the existing contracts and drafted rules for the lottery’s games.
As interim director, he replaces Terry Presta, a former Kansas House member appointed to the job in 2013 by then-Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
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