BOSTON (State House News Service) — Regulators liked a pair of internal applicants to temporarily lead the Massachusetts Gaming Commission so much that they found a way to incorporate them both into their final decision.
The commission voted unanimously Monday to tap Todd Grossman, the agency's general counsel, to serve as its interim executive director starting at the end of the week.
And after deliberations that featured one member wishing both Grossman and MGC Racing Director Alexandra Lightbown could get the job, commissioners settled on a compromise: Lightbown will report directly to the commission itself, not Grossman, for the foreseeable future.
Commissioner Eileen O'Brien first suggested the split. Because Grossman will retain his general counsel duties while serving as interim executive director, O'Brien said taking racing matters off his plate will give him "the best shot at balancing" the two roles.
Another commissioner, Nakisha Skinner, said she was happy to agree to the tweak "for no other reason than that allows both candidates to win today."
"I don't want to pick a loser here, because there are no losers out of these two," added Commissioner Jordan Maynard. "The losers here are the commission for being in this situation."
The panel agreed that Grossman's work as general counsel will set him up well to run the entire agency and its 100-plus employees for a stint because, as Skinner put it, he "has touched really every single piece of this agency."
"He could get right in there and hit the ground running," Skinner said. "We're talking about next Monday, assuming we get to a decision today, where this individual would be expected to step in."
Assuming he accepts the job, Grossman will take on executive director duties from Karen Wells, who is departing at the end of the day Friday after a three-and-a-half-year tenure during which the MGC grappled with the impact of COVID-19 and oversaw the launch of legal sports betting in Massachusetts.
It's not clear what he will be paid for the additional responsibilities -- commissioners plan to meet again in an executive session Wednesday to discuss compensation -- nor how long Grossman will serve in the role.
The commission has not laid out a specific timeline for selecting a permanent executive director, though Skinner said during Monday's meeting she expects the "interim role will be in play for quite a few months."
Grossman joined the MGC as interim general counsel in 2019, and he took the permanent job the following year. He previously served as an inaugural commissioner of the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission and as an assistant district attorney in Middlesex County.
He told commissioners that his lengthy resume prepared him to step into the top role and pledged "there would certainly be a healthy dose of Karen Wells in any leadership that I'm able to offer."
"It's important to recognize that this particular position is not for the faint of heart," Grossman replied when asked how he would handle any unplanned upheaval. "I don't think my present position is, either."
"I think I can offer you a steady hand, one that is able to think quickly on my feet, but also take the time to go back and reflect on whatever the issue might be that didn't go the way we planned and see if there are different ways of getting from point A to point B," he added. "I think ultimately, there always are."
The panel settled on Grossman as their pick after they were torn in their first batch of deliberations about whose work experience would better translate to the interim executive director role.
Commissioner Brad Hill initially signaled he preferred Lightbown because she previously served as interim director of racing at the Massachusetts State Racing Commission, which had about 50 employees. That could better prepare her to step into a temporary role managing a large team, Hill said.
"She has proven herself to be able to be put into a position and persevere and do well, and I think that experience can't be overlooked," Hill said.
Written by Chris Lisinski/SHNS
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok