Article by Office of Gov. Christine Gregoire. Published on Saturday, May 01, 2010 EST.

Gov. Gregoire appoints Bill Hanson to head up Washington State Lottery

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Bill Hanson as the new director of the Washington State Lottery.

“The state Lottery is undergoing a period of change with a new mission,” said Gregoire.  “Bill is the right director at the right to time to usher in this new phase of the state’s lottery, especially as it helps fund critical programs like education.”

Hanson has more than three decades of experience in public service and law enforcement.  He is a former State Patrol Officer serving for 27 years and was the president and vice president of the Washington State troopers association for six of those years.  Hanson left the department in 2000 to become the executive director of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs where he served until 2006.  Most recently, since 2007, Hanson has been the executive director of the Washington state Fraternal order of Police.  Hanson has also been a member of the Washington State Lottery Commission the last five years.

“I am honored and excited about this new opportunity to serve,” Hanson said. “I look forward to getting to work right away, helping ensure that the Lottery does its part to support the recently created Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, which will go a long way to fund important college and early learning programs for those who need it the most.”

Hanson will replace outgoing director Christopher Liu.

“I want to thank Chris for his hard work and his many accomplishments during his tenure,” said Gregoire.  “He has been a great leader and an outstanding steward of the state Lottery these last five years.”

Since 1982, Washington’s Lottery has generated revenue for a number of state programs including school construction, stadium debt and the general fund.  During the 2010 legislative session, the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account was created and all net income from the multi-state lottery games, other than those dedicated to the Problem Gambling Account, were to be deposited into the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account rather than into the general fund.  Funds in this account are to be used for the following programs: recruitment of entrepreneurial researchers, innovation partnership zones, and research teams; the early childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP); the State Need Grant; the State Work Study program; College Bound Scholarships; Washington Promise Scholarships; Washington Scholars; the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE).

Most recently, Washington’s Lottery returned $120 million in Fiscal Year 2009.

Hanson’s appointment is effective May 16. He will earn an annual salary of $115,000. 

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