Jim Townsend Named Chair of Michigan Gaming Control Board

DETROIT, Mich. — Jim Townsend will become chair of the Michigan Gaming Control Board on August 1, succeeding Jim Ananich.

The leadership change places a former state lawmaker and practicing attorney at the head of Michigan’s gaming regulator. Townsend’s appointment remains subject to the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Townsend to represent Democrats on the five-member board. His board term will begin August 1 and run through December 31, 2028.

Townsend will serve as chair from the same date and remain in that position at the governor’s discretion. Ananich is scheduled to resign at the end of July, bringing his tenure as chair to a close before Townsend assumes the role.

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Townsend Brings Legal and Legislative Experience

Townsend currently serves as director of the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy at Wayne State University. The center focuses on legislative oversight and the role of government institutions in public accountability.

He previously worked in the Detroit office of law firm Butzel Long, where he was a member of the Corporate and Real Estate Practice Group. Townsend also represented Michigan’s 26th District in the state House of Representatives from 2011 through 2017.

Michigan Gaming Control Board Executive Director Henry Williams said Townsend’s professional background prepared him to lead the board. Williams will work with Townsend as the regulator continues its public meetings and board-level decision-making.

“Jim Townsend is a proven leader whose legal, legislative, and economic development experience make him exceptionally well-suited to lead the Board,” Williams said.

Townsend graduated with highest honors in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He later earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan, followed by a law degree from Wayne State University Law School.

Senate Review and August Meeting Come Next

Townsend will join current board members Joni M. Thrower Davis, Mark Evenson, Deidre A. Lambert-Bounds and Andrew T. Palms. The appointment will not be final until the Michigan Senate completes its review and provides consent.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board’s next public meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on August 4 at Cadillac Place in Detroit. The meeting will take place three days after Townsend’s appointment becomes effective, although the announcement did not specify whether any leadership-related matters will appear on the agenda.

The board publishes meeting details and public information through the Michigan government website. Further developments could include Senate action on the appointment and confirmation of Townsend’s first meeting as chair.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation