[ad_1]
Madison, Wisconsin (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers will appoint a former Democrat to lead Wisconsin’s parole board.
The governor’s office said Friday that it plans to select former state senator John Apenbach to chair the committee. Erpenbach he will replace Christopher Blythe. Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback did not immediately respond to messages seeking details on why Blythe left the position and when his Erpenbach will take over.
Erpenbach inherits a committee last year rocked by Republican criticism of then-chairman John Tate’s decision to release a convicted murderer on parole.
Douglas Balsewicz was convicted of stabbing his 23-year-old wife to death in 1997 and had served less than 25 of his 80-year prison sentence, but Tate decided to release him.
Evers, who was in the middle of his re-election campaign, asked Tate to revoke Barcewitz’s parole. Tate agreed days before Balcewitz was released. Tate resigned in June at Evers’ request, and the governor chose Bryce to replace him.
Erpenbach was first elected to the State Senate in 1999 and represented the Middleton area for 23 years. He decided not to seek re-election last year and retired on January 3.
In a statement issued by the governor’s office, Erpenbach said the commission’s success will help victims, survivors, and their families while balancing the law, public safety, and keeping at-risk people off the streets. He said it depends on keeping them away.
[ad_2]
Source link
