McGrath appoints McAnally, Kennedy to GAC
Pub Date: 8/1/2007
Montana Atty. Gen. Mike McGrath announced June 25 the appointment of Bob McAnally of Poplar and Mark Kennedy of Billings to the Gaming Advisory Council (GAC).
McAnally is the vice president of academics at Fort Peck Community College and is a graduate of Antioch University and the University of Montana School of Law. McAnally is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe and will be the designated Native American representative on the GAC. He has been the Fort Peck Tribes' gaming legal counsel since 1990 and he is a member of the National Native American Bar Association. McAnally is a Navy veteran and served two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Kennedy is an investment specialist with First interstate Financial Services and is the president of the Montana Council on Problem Gambling. He is a former member of the Billings City Council and serves on the Billings Aviation and Transit Board. Kennedy will represent the general public.
"Bob and Mark both bring important perspectives to the Council," McGrath said. "Bob has been involved in tribal gaming issues for a long time. He will be very helpful as the Council deals with the complex issues surrounding state/tribal compacts.
"As President of the Montana Council on Problem Gambling," McGrath continued, "Mark will be an important voice on the Council. In addition, he brings a lot of experience as a business person and, as city councilman, knows how to reach consensus on difficult issues."
Legislative leaders also appointed recently (and reported in the July edition of the Montana Tavern Times) are Rep. Mark Blasdel (R-Somers) and Sen. Lane Larson (D-Billings) to the GAC. Larson s appointment will begin in 2008, when Sen. Joe Tropila of Great Falls ends his term on the council.
The Gaming Advisory Council was created in 1989 to study all aspects of gambling in Montana, to review and comment on administrative rules proposed by the Department of Justice's Gambling Control Division and to make recommendations to the department and the legislature on gambling-related matters.
The council is made up of nine members: one each from the Senate and the House of Representatives, one public member, two local government representatives, one Native American representative and three gaming industry representatives.
Leaders of the Montana House and Senate select the legislators while the attorney general appoints the other council members.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, August, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.