Kaine Names Lottery Director

Arlington native Paula I. Otto has been named executive director of the Virginia Lottery, state officials announced today.

Otto, a professor of communications at Virginia Commonwealth University, was part of the original team that created the Virginia Lottery and worked at the agency from 1988 to 1997. Since then she has continued to assist Lottery officials in communications training.

"I can't think of another person more qualified for this position," Gov. Timothy M> Kaine (D) said in a statement today.

Otto, 46, was raised in Arlington County but moved to Hanover County in 1986.

The Lottery is an important source of funding for schools in Virginia. Since 1999, all its profits have been designated for elementary and secondary education in the state. The Lottery has provide some $3.4 billion for the state's schools.

In the past 19 years, the Lottery has awarded more than $10 billion in prizes.
The Virginia Lottery employs 250 people and generates sales revenues of mors than $1 billion annually.

--Kirstin Downey