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Lottery VP fired over poor audit, IRS penalty, documents reveal

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Updated: 10/12/2011 5:48 pm

Published: 10/12/2011 5:36 pm

Ernestine Middleton personnel file (45.0KB)

LITTLE ROCK, AR - - Documents released under a freedom of information request reveal the former Arkansas Scholarship Lottery VP of Administration felt pressured to resign before she was fired.

Ernestine Middleton was fired on October 6th by lottery interim director Julie Baldridge.

According to documents released Wednesday under a FOIA request, Baldridge told Middleton "I have lost confidence in your ability to perform to the level this agency will need going forward."

The 50-page personnel file also reveals Middleton felt pressured to resign, describing the work atmosphere as a "total disregard of me personally and professionally."

Middleton is one of three lottery executives to leave the payroll of the state lottery in the last two weeks. Former lottery director Ernie Passailiaigue left Oct 2 & VP of Gaming David Barden resigned on Sept 30.

Middleton, Barden & Passailiaigue all came to Arkansas in 2009 from the positions in the South Carolina lottery.

Their salary levels, $225,000 for Barden & Middleton and $330,000 for Passailaigue, drew criticism from some in the legislature as excessive.

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FOX16 - Breaking News and Weather to Plan Your Day for Little Rock and Central Arkansas

guard - 10/13/2011 10:29 PM

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I pray Arkansas voters will re-call the lottery, most of the money goes to support the gambling operation, the kids get 20% of all, this is so sad.

gwininator - 10/13/2011 1:24 PM

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Does this mean that we will get more corrupt political appointees to fill these positions? That seems to be the norm when there are high paying positions available anywhere in the state.

teacups - 10/13/2011 9:33 AM

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Fardy, 1) "Church groups" had virtually nothing to do with the performance levels of these three staff members. 2) The lottery is falling in upon itself. That's no one's fault but the lottery. Stop blaming anyone but the lottery.

ladyofthehill - 10/13/2011 6:46 AM

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Must not have had a very strong foundation with 3 fired in 2 weeks.People will be crazy to give up their jobs now to fill these.

Demopublican - 10/12/2011 7:10 PM

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Nobody said anything about stopping the lottery. We are just getting rid of this set of crooks to be replaced with an new set of crooks.

Fardy McPooter - 10/12/2011 6:30 PM

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Just another underhanded attempt to over turn the voters choice to initiate the lottery. church groups have been throwing themselves against this since inception. I am surprised that these folks lasted this long in this hostile environment.....

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