Governor reappoints 2 past opponents of 2014 Cedar Rapids casino

Two regulators of Iowa casinos who helped vote down a proposed Cedar Rapids casino in 2014 have been reappointed to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Gov. Terry Branstad announced Wednesday.

The reappointment of Carl Heinrich, of Council Bluffs, and Jeff Lamberti, of Ankeny, were among dozens of appointments to state boards and commissions, such as the Iowa Transportation Commission, Iowa Utilities Board and the Board of Regents, announced by Branstad.

The terms start May 1, pending confirmation by the Iowa Senate.

Locally, the appointments to the gaming commission are notable given the three applications submitted last month for a Cedar Rapids casino license. Of the 18 who applied for the openings, no one is from Cedar Rapids.

Heinrich and Lamberti were part of a 4-1 majority rejecting a bid for a license for Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids in April 2014. They leaned heavily on independent market studies predicting heavy cannibalization of revenue from surrounding casinos, such as Riverside Casino & Golf Resort south of Iowa City.

Heinrich and Lamberti already have cast doubt on new applications suggesting little has changed in what has been a flat market for gambling in Iowa. However, Lamberti has vowed the panel will keep an open mind as the review process plays out this time around. A new round of independent market studies are being ordered as part of the review process, which will mimic the 2013-14 review.

The commission could reach a decision in November.

'Commissioners Heinrich and Lamberti have served Iowans well and we look forward to working with them on our proposal for a casino in Cedar Rapids,” Brent Stevens and Steve Gray, investors in the Cedar Crossing on the River and Cedar Crossing Central casino proposals for Cedar Rapids, said in an email Wednesday. A third casino, Wild Rose Cedar Rapids, has put in an application.

Other appointments announced Wednesday include:

' Geri Huser, of Altoona, and Richard Lozier, of Des Moines, to the Iowa Utilities Board. Huser, chairwoman of the board, was part of a 3-0 vote to grant a permit and eminent domain rights for the Dakota Access pipeline to pass 346 miles through 18 Iowa counties. Lozier would replace Elizabeth (Libby) S. Jacobs.

' Tom Rielly, of Oskaloosa, and Nancy Maher, of Shenandoah, to the Transportation Commission, which helps set the Iowa Department of Transportation's multibillion dollar road construction plan. They replace former Congressman Leonard Boswell and Loree Miles.

Other Local Appointments

Here is a list of area residents appointed to statewide boards by Gov. Terry Branstad:

' Architectural Examining Board - Tandi Brannaman, Iowa City.

' Commission for the Blind - Ryan Brems, Cedar Rapids.

' Boiler and Pressure Vessel Board - Robert Brecke, Palo, and Timothy Fehr, Iowa City.

' Board of Chiropractic - Nancy Netolicky, Cedar Rapids.

' Civil Rights Commission - Douglas Oelschlaeger, Cedar Rapids.

' Board of Corrections - Richard LaMere Jr., Anamosa, and Rebecca Williams, Cedar Rapids.

' Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences - Jacquelyn Hein, Monticello, and Jerry Akers, Palo.

' County Finance Committee - Janine Sulzner, Anamosa.

' Board of Dietetics - Julie Eichenberger, Iowa City.

' Enhance Iowa Board - Stefanie Kohn, Cedar Rapids.

' Environmental Protection Commission - Robert Sinclair, Williamsburg.

' Healthy and Well Kids In Iowa Board (Hawk-i) - Kaaren Vargas, Coralville.

' Council on Human Services - Kimberly Kudej, Swisher.

' Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council - Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner, Cedar Rapids.

' Board of Medicine - Hamed Tewfik, Iowa City.

' Mental Health and Disability Services Commission - Betty King and Kathryn Johnson, both of Cedar Rapids, and Geoffrey Lauer, Iowa City.

' Commission of Native American Affairs - Joe Coulter, Iowa City.

' Board of Parole, Alternate Members - Susie Weinacht, Cedar Rapids.

' Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy - Melinda Shetler, North Liberty.

' Board of Podiatry - Eugene Nassif, Cedar Rapids.

' Board of Social Work - Megan Begley, Cedar Rapids.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com