Veteran State Worker Will Direct Lottery

Wed., Feb. 5, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A 28-year veteran of state government, Merritt D. Long, on Tuesday was named director of the Washington state lottery.

Gov. Gary Locke appointed Long to replace Evelyn P. Yenson, now director of the state Department of Licensing.

Long has been director of the Washington State Human Rights Commission for the past four years. There, he helped establish an early dispute resolution program to mediate and quickly resolve discrimination complaints. He also helped the agency secure non-state funding that enabled staff to provide training for employers and employees on the Americans with Disabilities Act, investigation of discrimination complaints and prevention of workplace discrimination.

Before that, Long spent seven years with the state Board for Vocational Education, where he helped pilot a “small-business incubator project” in which office space, staff and equipment were shared by small-business owners.

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