Despite DUI, Lamberti chosen to lead Iowa gambling panel

Former Iowa Senate President Jeff Lamberti has been elected to head the Iowa gambling commission just two weeks after pleading guilty to drunken driving.

The Des Moines Register reports that members of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to make Lamberti their leader.

After the meeting Lamberti said he was happy for the vote of confidence and that it was his intention to put the drunken-driving incident behind him.

Lamberti, a former Republican Senate leader from Ankeny, on June 28 was given a suspended sentence of a year in jail and was ordered to complete a two-day program for drunken drivers. He must pay a $1,250 fine and complete a year of probation.

The commission regulates 18 casinos, two greyhound tracks and one horse track.