Last week Governor Walz announced the appointment of two new members to the Minnesota Racing Commission: Melanie Benjamin from Onamia, MN and Johnny Johnson from Welch, MN. The Commission provides oversight for live horse racing, wagering, online wagering, and card clubs at both Canterbury and Running Aces racetracks.

Both appointees are tribal leaders – Benjamin is the six-term Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe chief executive, and Johnson who until recently has served as the president of the Prairie Island Indian Community. Both communities’ casinos have been direct competitors against the racetracks.

Notably, Benjamin was previously embroiled in controversy when she was charged with theft in 2010 when it was discovered she used tribal money for home improvements. And Johnson is a party defendant in a current lawsuit brought by Running Aces alleging violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (“RICO”) Act based on the allegation that Mille Lacs and Prairie Island tribal casinos have been conducting class III casino card games that were not authorized by law.

“These appointments are divisive, retaliatory, and represent a clear abuse of Governor Walz’s power,” said Senator Michael Kreun (R-Blaine), whose district is home to Running Aces.  “The commission provides regulatory oversight for live horse racing and wagering, and card clubs at both of Minnesota’s racetracks. Yet Governor Walz appointed high ranking members of the very tribal communities who are trying to put the horse racing tracks out of business for competitive gain. Shockingly, Governor Walz chose to appoint someone who is currently a party defendant in active litigation against Running Aces! This is an egregious conflict of interest and clearly an act of retaliation against the horse tracks for not bending to the whims of the Tribes during the sports betting discussions. Canterbury and Running Aces are economic drivers for our state, employ over a thousand Minnesotans, and are valuable assets to the communities they reside in. As long as these two appointees are allowed to serve, the success of the tracks will be stifled and it will cause irreparable harm to the communities and tax bases that depend on them.”

This is happening amidst an ongoing “federal racketeering” lawsuit between Running Aces and tribes, which alleges tribal casinos throughout the state are offering card games that are not authorized under state law.

Both members’ terms will be effective July 1, 2024, and expire on June 30, 2029.