Gov. Daniels names Massa new Ind. ATC chairman

The Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) of Indiana named former Marion County Prosecutor Mark Massa its new chairman.

Massa began his duties Dec. 13 following about 20 years of legal experience.
 
“It’s helpful to have a wide breadth of experience in all branches of government,”
Massa said.

“My legal background helps. I was a lawyer for 21 years. There is a law enforcement aspect to it as well, seeing as how the excise police report to the ATC chairman. I worked as a prosecutor for 15 of the last 21 years at both the state and the federal level.”

The ATC exists for four main reasons. First, it regulates tobacco sales, possession and distribution.

It also protects the economic welfare, health, peace and morals of the people of Indiana.

Its third and fourth purposes are to raise revenue and regulate the manufacture, sale,
possession and use of alcohol, according to www.in.gov/atc.

All of these services were abated early Nov. 2010 when previous Chairman P. Thomas Snow resigned. In a quick turnaround, Gov. Mitch Daniels selected Mark Massa to head the commission as chairman.

After three weeks in office Massa gave an evaluation.

“There is a truly traditional experience when working at this job. There is a board of appeals that a license applicant must stand before for a license to be acquired,” Massa said. “There’s truly a judicial aspect about the process.”

Massa’s predecessor, Snow, served as a superior court judge before serving as ATC
chairman.

Indiana’s Excise Police Superintendent Alex Huskey is another important figure in relation to the ATC.

Many levels of government and administration are involved in ATC business when a law such as a statewide smoking ban becomes a point of discussion.

“On most issues, if we are asked to weigh upon issues by legislators, we will give an enforcement type perspective,” Massa said. “Alex Huskey is asked his opinion quite often, but we don’t usually take position on policies without input from the executive branch.”

The change in administration on the state level will have some impact, but decisive Bloomington-centralized action is on the shoulders of the local board.

Gov. Daniels has reported a decrease in the amount of alcohol-related deaths, according to a press release.

“I don’t see anything occurring in a change in administration of commission that would negatively affect that trend,” Massa said.

“We need to continue to educate and use law enforcement to continue this positive trend. The law fixes a responsibility upon license holders, but I would hope that they would have a moral responsibility as well.”