One week after appointment, Overton resigns from Racing Commission
The former chair of the Minnesota Racing Commission has resigned his position. Jesse Overton, who was reappointed to the Commission last week, confirmed to MPR News that he sent Gov. Dayton a resignation letter that was effective today.
“I was under vicious attack,” Overton said in an interview. He said two employees of the Minnesota Racing Commission criticized him. Overton said the investigation, which cleared his name, and other allegations made it difficult to continue in his role.
“I no longer could continue to serve in that capacity and be effective simply because I have been treated differently than any other state employee who ever held that position.”
Gov. Dayton reappointed Overton to the commission last week but did not reappoint him as chair.
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Overton also said he felt that Governor Dayton’s office did little to clear his name after the investigation was finished on March 1.
“I have been vindicated since the first of March and the governor’s office never told the press or anybody until I raised sand about it,” Overton said.
Bob Hume, a spokesman for Dayton, says the state released the report as soon it was ready to be released.
AP reported that state officials released the investigation into Overton last week. It cleared him of allegations that he harassed and discriminated against a female employee because of her gender. The report found, however, that Overton had a different management style than past chairmen.
Overton is a Democrat who was first appointed to the Minnesota Racing Commission by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2007.
The racing commission oversees Minnesota’s two horse tracks.