PARIS ACHEN - New Oregon Lottery Commissioner Maureen Bedell talks to a lottery employee Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, about fly fishing after a commission meeting in Salem.

Gov. Kate Brown’s latest appointee attended her first meeting of the Oregon Lottery Commission Friday, Jan. 27.

Maureen Bedell of Bend was appointed to succed former Commissioner Mary Wheat on the five-member commission.

Bedell, a retired deputy superintendent from Oregon State Police, represents law enforcement on the commission.

“We have one very new face,” said commission Chairwoman MardiLyn Saathoff.

Bedell gradated with a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Oregon State University and later a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Oregon University. She went into law enforcement after a summer job with OSP. The job turned into a full-time position as a dispatcher. Bedell eventually went on to become a trooper and then a detective in the criminal division, where she climbed the ranks to deputy superintendent. She retired from that position in 2014 and moved to Bend with her husband, Ben, where the couple enjoys fly fishing and mountain biking.

The name of Maurin Patel, who joined the commission in September, happens to rhyme with Bedell’s.

When Saathoff called on commissioners to vote on acceptance of a financial report, she spouted off the names of Bedell and Patel in succession.

“I kind of like that beginning rhyming,” Commissioner Chris Telfer quipped. “It’s kind of catchy.”