Now that Maryland has welcomed slot
machines into the state, legislators are saddled with the responsibility
of working out the details. Governor Martin O’Malley has been in search
of a person to head up the commission that will distribute operating
licenses for slot machines. After a wide search and the job being
turned down by a few prominent universities, it seems the leader of a
business advocacy group will take on the role.
Donald C. Fry has headed up the Greater
Baltimore Committee since 2002. He was at one time a state lawmaker
from Hartford County. The Greater Baltimore Committee supported
legalizing slot machines for quite some time, in hopes that slot
machines would act as an economic stimulus. Fry’s selection by Governor
O’Malley was made public this week.
Two important figures in the Maryland
academic community rejected O’Malley’s offer to head up the commission.
First O’Malley approached Chancellor William E. Kirwan of The University
System of Maryland. Next the role was offered to the President of the
University of Baltimore, Robert L. Bogomolny.
The reason these two educational figures
rejected the position on board the committee that distributes licenses
to operate slot machines across the state goes beyond the fact that the
job is not paying. Senior members of the university system’s Board of
Regents advised the university leaders to steer clear of the job because
it would time consuming in a way that would likely impede upon their
current responsibilities.
Slot machines will hopefully bring
millions of dollars each year into state coffers.