Career highlights and education: After graduating from The University of Texas at the Permian Basin, I moved to Austin in 1987 and found a position with the Comptroller of Public Accounts in the Enforcement Division. In 1991, when the state lottery was approved by the voters in Texas, then-Comptroller John Sharp appointed me as a member of the Lottery Implementation Task Force, eventually leading to a position in charge of lottery claim centers in the newly created Lottery Division of the State Comptroller's Office.  In 1993, the Lottery Division transitioned from the Comptroller's Office and became the Texas Lottery Commission. In 1997, I became the Lottery Operations director and in 2002 I served my first term as acting executive director until I was named deputy executive director in 2003. I served my second stint as acting executive director in 2005 and once again returned to the deputy executive director position in 2006. In March of this year, I was appointed executive director.

 
What I like best about my job is: Helping to develop the talented people we have in our agency. The Lottery Commission is a dynamic, entrepreneurial enterprise focused on generating revenue for the Foundation School Fund. While we clearly work within the parameters of state government, we operate more like a business to market and promote our products. The staff understands the need to generate lottery sales and keep the business moving forward. Because of that, we tend to attract high achievers and motivated team members. It's extremely rewarding to work with that type of staff over time and watch them grow and develop in their particular areas of expertise.

The best advice I've received for my current job is: From my former Commission Chairman Tom Clowe: "Understand that about a third of Texans like the Lottery, another third don't care, and the other third oppose what you do and what you stand for. Be very respectful of that last third in all that you do." That advice has served me well.

Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Seek out the experts in your area, spend some time with them and learn how your particular job impacts lottery revenue to the Foundation School Fund. No matter what position you may hold in our agency, perform your job with the utmost integrity, and ask yourself every day, "What can I do to help generate Lottery sales?"

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: Coaching youth basketball, attending a sporting event either being played in or coached by my sons, or catching up with my daughter who is in college at Baylor. At my house, it's all about the kids.

People would be surprised to know that I: never in my wildest imagination had any idea or aspirations that I would end up working in the gaming field. Growing up in a strict Baptist home, the concept of ever working in the lottery industry seemed rather remote. I have an older sister who still tells me on a regular basis that she will be so happy someday when I get a "real" job.

One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: The tremendous dedication, commitment and integrity of our staff. Always a lightning rod for controversy and newspaper headlines due to the nature of the business we're in, sometimes lost on the average citizen is this fact: if our staff's integrity was anything less than exemplary, not a single lottery ticket would be sold. The nature of gaming demands that the player believes the games are run honestly and above reproach; generating over a billion dollars a year to the Foundation School Fund tells me our staff is doing things the right way.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded a $1.1 million grant authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to pay for five energy conservation projects and a city staff member to focus on energy savings.
 
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant will provide $513,440 for energy-efficient upgrades to city buildings, $250,000 to pay a city staffer for three years to lead city energy savings efforts and $138,000 to hire consultants to develop a second phase of a comprehensive sustainability plan, said Ken Banks, director of environmental services and sustainability. The grant also included $65,100 to pay for developing a required energy conservation strategy.
 
The grant also will provide $123,460 to trap methane at the landfill and the wastewater treatment plant and convert the methane gas to electricity using an existing generating facility. Another $27,000 will be used to purchase new equipment for the energy audit program for homes and businesses operated by Denton Municipal Electric, Banks said. The energy projects are expected to save city residents more than 9.5 million kilowatt-hours each year, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 21,450 metric tons and create 15 jobs. Federal requirements are for the funds to be obligated by March 2011 and spent by September 2012.

 

 

 

 

Trustees for the Abilene Independent School District recently selected Mark Neal as the new associate superintendent for personnel.
 
A lawyer who previously contracted his legal services to school districts and municipalities, Neal recently worked with Abilene Superintendent Heath Burns while he was at Angleton ISD. Because Neal is an attorney who has focused on human resources, he can save the district about $70,000 each year on legal counsel, Burns said.
 
Neal will replace Associate Superintendent Royce Curtis, who is retiring after serving 25 years as a teacher, principal and associate superintendent. Neal holds a doctor of jurisprudence degree from The University of Texas School of Law. 

 

Henderson Independent School District trustees recently began discussing whether to reschedule in November a previously rescinded bond election to pay for completion of the district's master facility plan.
 
Trustees last year rescinded a $55 million bond election, saying that they needed more time to educate voters about the bond proposal. However, trustees put plans on hold to conduct public hearings on the proposal when Superintendent Bobby Brown announced he would retire in May 2010. Board members recently selected Superintendent Keith Boles of Connally ISD as the lone finalist to replace Bond and expect to discuss the bond issue with the new superintendent once he assumes that position. The bond proposal last year called for $55 million to build a new middle school, renovate Northside Elementary, build an auditorium and competition gym at the high school, improve the football stadium and convert an old elementary into an administration building.
 
Trustees will look at several options - such as whether to place all projects in one bond proposal or divide up the proposed facility upgrades into smaller bond proposals spread over time. Board members are expected to conduct public hearings this summer to provide information about the facilities needs of the district and the solutions proposed to address those needs.
 

Grant, stimulus funds to help Anthony PD combat crime

The criminal justice division of the governor's office recently awarded a $100,000 grant to the Anthony Police Department to increase the department's ability to combat crime.

 

That grant will be combined with a $319,000 grant from federal economic stimulus funds and a $45,000 state grant, both received earlier this year, said Chief Edward Miranda. The $100,000 state grant will pay for increasing the number of officers from two per shift to four per shift, while the smaller state grant allowed the department to hire a part-time clerk and a full-time communications officer.

 

The federal funding is being used to train police officers in firearms proficiency and to buy rifles, cameras, computers, global positioning system units and night-vision goggles, Miranda said. The federal grant also will pay for training two peace officers assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration task force.

 

 

 

The San Antonio Independent School District is partnering with the San Antonio Fire Department, San Antonio Police Department and San Antonio College (SAC) to launch Public Safety High School for the 2010-2011 school year.

 

The new school will be located on the campus of Edison High School. SAC instructors will teach courses in the college's First Responders Academy and the Criminal Justice programs.

 

Roxanne Rosales, senior director of academic support for SAISD, said juniors and seniors interested in public safety careers will be able to "jump start their future through participation in this program." Participating students will earn dual credit that can be applied toward an associate's degree from SAC after they graduate.  
 

 

 

 

 

Last  BOP sessions with TxDOT is announced
The last session of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Business Outreach and Program (BOP) Services Small Business Briefing conferences is set for June 15 in Texarkana. The conference goal is to provide small and minority-owned business communities an opportunity to learn more about contracting opportunities with TxDOT. Information will be available to help them do business with the agency and the State of Texas. The session not only allows small businesses to be introduced to TxDOT and other state agencies, but also allows them to learn more about the economic development opportunities in their regions. It also allows the agencies to show the myriad of opportunities available for small and minority businesses in the state. For more information, click here or call 1.866.480.2518, Option 2.
 
Workshop to address fighting cancer in the community
A two-day workshop, "Tools for Texans: Helping Communities Fight Cancer," is planned for Thursday and Friday, April 22 and 23, at the Doubletree Hotel in Houston, near Intercontinental Airport. The workshop was developed for community stakeholders, health care professionals, cancer survivors, volunteers and anyone who wants to work toward fighting cancer in the community. The workshop is intended to enhance the capacity of participants to implement cancer prevention and control programs in communities throughout the state. The conference is presented by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Cost of the conference is $50 per person, which includes meals both days and Cancer Control Toolkit materials. For more information, click here and look under "Resources." Travel scholarships are being offered.

 

 

Where do folks go when they leave government? Some go to work in the private sector or for nonprofits. Some transition to executive-level positions in higher education while others may seek elected local government positions. And some just retire and spend a lot of time with their grandkids at the fishin' hole. This column focuses on where former state government officials and private sector employees are now.

David Kunkle joined the Dallas Police Department in 1972 and after reaching the rank of captain, left to serve as police chief in Grand Prairie and Arlington. He was serving as deputy city manager in Arlington in 2004 when he was hired by the City of Dallas as police chief. After five years with DPD, he announced his retirement as chief last November.  When he leaves that position later this month, Kunkle will begin a consulting job with the Caruth Police Institute at the University of North Texas at Dallas, where he will also teach a criminal justice class at the university.