Gambling Regulators elect new leadership

Former state legislator and lobyist, Bill Hansen of Urbandale, was elected the new chair of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Thursday at itsmeeting in Ames. Rita Sealock of Council Bluffs is the new Vice-chair. Hansen and Sealock are the only two members of the five-member commissionretained by Governor Tom Vilsack. Vilsack said the commission members he removed had gone beyond their authority in regulating gambling. Hansen says the addition of three new members will change the way the commission functions. He says the commission won’t take any action on major rulechanges until it gets new direction from the legislature defining the commission’s authority. Former commission members and others say thereconfigured commission will favor gambling interests. Hansen disagrees. New commission members Diane Hamilton of Storm Lake, James Hassenfritz of Sperry and Michael Mahaffey of Montezuma attended their first meeting sincebeing appointed by Vilsack.