Edwin Van Petten, who'd been executive director of the Kansas State Lottery for 11 years, is moving north to run the Minnesota Lottery.
Gov. Mark Dayton's office announced the appointment this morning.
Van Petten had been replaced in Kansas last year by the governor, who said at the time that he just wanted a change in leadership. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownbeck's office said that there was nothing wrong with the way Van Petten ran the lottery.
In a statement today, Van Petten said:
“It is such an honor to join Gov. Dayton’s team. I am excited about the opportunity to lead such an innovative and successful organization.”
The announcement said that the Kansas lottery sales increased 68 percent during Van Petten's tenure. He was also recognized with awards from the Kansas Responsible Gambling Alliance, the Public Gaming Research Institute, and the Kansas Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism for his leadership on behalf of the lottery and his work promoting the state of Kansas.
Minnesota's former lottery director, Clint Harris, took a leave of absence last summer and Jenny Canfield was named acting executive.
