A New Mexico Senate committee is scheduled to decide whether to reappoint the chair of the state fair commission.
Larry Kennedy is expected Thursday to go before the Senate Rules Committee amid questions from Democrats over a much-debated lease that allowed Downs of Albuquerque to build a larger casino.
Critics have questioned whether political contributions influenced the deal.
Kennedy answered questions from Democratic committee members who faulted Kennedy for only holding one commission meeting last year and for what they said was mismanagement.
Committee chair Sen. Linda Lopez also is seeking to have State Fair Manager Dan Mourning appear before the panel to answer questions. Lopez is among five Democrats running for governor against Gov. Susana Martinez this year.
Republicans have called the debate over the lease politically motivated.
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