Hunt for new lottery chief to start

COLUMBIA — The search is on to find a new director for the South Carolina Education Lottery to replace outgoing Ernie Passailaigue.

The lottery's Board of Commissioners met Tuesday via teleconference to decide how to conduct their national search.

Passailaigue was tapped Friday by the fledgling Arkansas Lottery Commission to head its games. He earned a $218,105 salary in South Carolina, and will be paid $324,000 a year in Arkansas. His last day is June 30.

He is a former state senator from Charleston County and a certified public accountant. Passailaigue resigned his Senate seat in 2001 to establish the lottery after 13 years in the Legislature.

Tim Madden, chairman of the S.C. Lottery Commission, said he would name members to a search committee. He wants the search committee to bring a formal recommendation to the full commission within about 10 days on how to proceed, including whether to hire a national search firm.

Madden said he anticipates a lot of interest in the position, especially in the current economy. Several staff members are also interested in the job, Madden said. The commissioners did not decide if they would name an interim director if the search continues beyond this month.

In Arkansas, a legislative panel on Tuesday approved by voice vote Passailaigue's salary, although one legislator expressed concern that Passailaigue was the only candidate interviewed for the job.

Arkansas Rep. Bruce Maloch, a member of the lottery oversight panel, said he would have preferred if the top three or four candidates had been interviewed for the top job. Lottery Commission Chairman Ray Thornton told lawmakers that he and another Arkansas commissioner had approached Passailaigue about the position to establish the lottery there like he'd done in South Carolina.

Passailaigue told the Arkansas Lottery Commission he will make a five-year commitment to stay on board. He plans to keep his family's home on Isle of Palms.

During the teleconference in Columbia, he thanked the South Carolina commissioners for their trust and the opportunity.

"We have a strong foundation here," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.