Gaming Commission to explore ways to resolve deadlocks
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, left with an even number of members after Chairman Stephen Crosby recused himself from votes on Greater Boston casino licensing issues, is going to try to come up with a procedure for dealing with tie votes.
A spokeswoman for the commission confirmed that the tie-vote issue will be taken up at this Thursday’s meeting, but she offered no further details. “It is an open discussion about what can and should be done,” said Elaine Driscoll, the spokeswoman.
The possibility of a commission stalemate figured prominently in calls over the weekend by a number of political candidates for Crosby to vacate his post to allow someone to take his place. The Boston Globe quoted Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democratic candidate for governor, as saying the state needs “a fully functioning commission in order to move ahead with the gaming process.”
Republican Charles Baker spoke directly to the tie-vote issue. “The possibility of a 2-2 tie is certainly real,” he told the Globe. “They have no provision that I’m aware of to break a tie.”
Crosby recused himself from all Greater Boston licensing matters last Thursday after coming to the conclusion that questions about his potential bias were becoming distracting for the commission. Asked what the commission would do if it became deadlocked, Crosby said the members would keep talking until they come to a resolution. His colleagues subsequently voted 4-0 to deny Boston host community status for both of the proposed Greater Boston casinos in Revere and Everett.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo said on Monday that the Gaming Commission was created by the Legislature as an independent body divorced from political influence so he would not take any position on what Crosby should do. “What he does further is up to he and the commission,” said DeLeo, who was aware that the commission planned to address the tie-vote issue.