The Missouri Gaming Commission is looking for a new chairman. Jim Mathewson announced he’s stepping down, one month after his three-year term officially expired.
He was appointed chairman by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon in 2009, but chose not to serve a second term in order to spend more time with his family.
During Mathewson’s tenure with the Gaming Commission, Missouri’s 13th casino license was awarded to developers in Cape Girardeau and disassociated gamblers were provided a pathway to reinstatement.
He says the main challenge now is raising enough revenue to help K-through-12 schools.
“Yes, the revenues are going down, but then I go one step further and wonder what would have happened if the casinos had not been here,” says Mathewson.
Mathewson is also a veteran lawmaker – he served six years in the Missouri House before being elected to the Senate in 1980, then served for 24 years in that chamber.
He’ll officially step down from the Gaming Commission on Friday. Governor Nixon has not yet announced Mathewson’s replacement.