Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray had to use his tie-breaking vote to win confirmation for two of the candidates.
Timothy MurrayBOSTON – The Governor’s Council has confirmed Gov. Deval Patrick’s four nominees to the embattled state parole board, but two of them required tie-breaking votes by Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray.
The board has been in turmoil since December, when Woburn police officer John Maguire was shot and killed by Dominic Cinelli, a career criminal who was paroled by the board in 2008.
The Council on Wednesday voted 5-4 to approve the nominations of Lucy Soto-Abbe, a victims’ advocate in the Hampden District Attorney’s office, and John Bocon, a former chief federal probation officer.
Patrick presided over the meeting so that Murray could cast the tie-breaking votes.
Ina Howard-Hogan, a lawyer for the parole board, was confirmed on a 6-3 vote and Charlene Bonner, a forensic psychologist, was approved 8-1.
More details coming in The Republican.