New Parole Board chairman named

The board voted Tuesday to elevate Terry Barnard, a former state representative from Shellman Bluff in Tattnall County, from vice chairman to chairman. Another former House republican, James Mills, was chosen to replace Barnard as vice chairman of the five-person board that decides when and if an inmate is paroled and whether a Death Row inmate’s sentence should be commuted.

Former Gov. Sonny Perdue named Barnard to the Parole Board four years ago and he became vice chairman in 2012.

Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Mills, who is also from the governor’s hometown of Gainesville, in November 2011.