NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Former House Speaker Glen Casada’s final moments as an embattled legislative leader were spent appointing members to Tennessee’s high-profile sports betting council.
Casada stepped aside as the GOP-controlled House leader last Friday following a long series of scandals involving explicit text messages about women. The weeks building up to his resignation were spent mostly out of public view, with Casada avoiding legislative meetings and reporters.
However, after helping back legislation legalizing sports betting in Tennessee during this year’s legislative session, Casada appointed two members on Aug. 1 to the newly enacted council tasked with overseeing mobile and interactive sports gambling for people 21 and older. The appointments were made without publicity and Casada resigned the following day.
Casada selected Knoxville attorney John Valliant Jr. to a three-year term and lobbyist Thomas Lee to a four-year term.
“I am confident that you will perform the duties of the office with the high standard of professionalism, dedication, and integrity and the citizens of Tennessee deserve and expect of their public servants,” Casada wrote about both men.