Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently appointed two tribal leaders to sit on the state Racing Commission. The selections drew immediate reactions from owners of the two tracks in the state.
Walz appointed Melanie Benjamin, chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and Johnny Johnson, former president of the Prairie Island Indian Community, to the commission.
“The Racing Commission’s job is to regulate the industry, and our two leaders, President Johnson and Chief Executive Benjamin, are more familiar than probably anybody in the state on the regulation of gambling,” Walz told the Star-Tribune, describing them as “two good folks” who “understand that responsibility.”
But reps from Canterbury Park in Shakopee and Running Aces in Columbus weren’t buying it. The tracks have looked for ways to expand options to ease their struggle and grow purses.
“We do not believe it is appropriate for competitors of the racetracks to serve in the role of our regulators,” Randy Sampson, CEO of Canterbury Park, told the Star-Tribune.
Taro Ito, president and CEO of Running Aces, labeled the appointments “a slap in the face to the Minnesota horse racing industry,” highlighting that Benjamin and Johnson manage casinos competing with the tracks and lack horse racing experience. Ito also pointed out that they replaced commissioners with extensive equine and racetrack operational experience.
Each of the two appointments serve five year turns. Outside of $55 daily allowance, the commissioners do not get paid.
Benjamin succeeds former Commissioner Roy Johnson, while Johnny Johnson replaces Dan Erhart. The Mille Lacs band has operated Grand Casino Mille Lacs since 1991, and the Prairie Island Community has run Treasure Island Resort & Casino since 1993.
Members of the commission can peruse confidential documents concerning track operations, which Sampson calls a potential conflict of interest with the two appointments. Tribal leaders can also see what kinds of marketing plans they will use to draw customers, perhaps giving ideas for casinos. Ito says the tribal casinos also have a suit against the commission.
