After a stretch with four commissioners, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is back to its full five-commissioner capacity and Interim Chair Jordan Maynard has officially taken on the position full time.
Gov. Maura Healey announced his official appointment on Monday. She additionally appointed former Melrose, MA Mayor Paul Brodeur as a new commissioner, filling the vacancy left by former Chair Cathy Judd-Stein.
“I’m grateful to Jordan Maynard for providing strong leadership for the Gaming Commission during this transitional period and proud to appoint him as Chair. He has proven to be a consensus builder who has a deep understanding of the agency and strives to do what’s best for the people of Massachusetts,” said Healey.
Maynard previously worked for Gov. Charlie Baker
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth as chair of the Gaming Commission, and am grateful to Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll for the trust they have placed in me to carry forward the mission of this incredibly important agency,” said Maynard. “Since being appointed to the Commission in 2022 and through my time as interim chair, I have been consistently impressed with the level of integrity and leadership shown by my fellow commissioners and staff at the MGC. I am confident that Mayor Brodeur will make an impactful addition to the MGC team where he will be able to call on his excellent experience as a state and municipal leader and continue his service to the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Maynard earned the role despite being the newest member of the commission. While commissioners do not disclose their political affiliation, Maynard previously worked as the executive secretary for Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, while Healey is a Democrat.
Maynard joined the MGC in 2022 as the joint appointee from State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, then Attorney General Healey and the outgoing Baker. Each of those roles is responsible for nominating one commissioner to a five-year term, while the remaining two slots are determined through the consensus of the three parties. Baker appointed Judd-Stein in 2019, so it fell to Healey to name Brodeur to fill the slot.
Brodeur brings another legal license to the MGC team
“Mayor Paul Brodeur is a trusted leader in our state who has a record of bringing people together to deliver results on our most pressing challenges, including by bringing together elected officials, the business community, labor and advocates to negotiate the Grand Bargain which strengthened our economy and supported Massachusetts workers, families and businesses alike. I’m excited for him to continue to service to Massachusetts as a commissioner,” added Healey.
Like most of the MGC commissioners, Brodeur is a licensed attorney with experience as a criminal prosecutor as well as Executive Counsel for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs.
Brodeur is joining the commission at a time where the group has been drawing a lot of attention for their interest in the practice of operators limiting sports bettors. The group is planning to revisit the discussion at a meeting next month.
