New leadership elected for FY 2015; James Mills elected Vice Chairman

Atlanta, GA – The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has elected Terry Barnard as chairman of the Parole Board. At the Board’s May 6, 2014 meeting, the Board Members also elected James Mills as vice chairman. Mr. Barnard and Mr. Mills will serve in the leadership roles for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2014.

“You’ve actually placed on me today the highest honor that a member of this board might ever hope to achieve, the honor of being elected your chairman. I know that this position (being chairman) does not come through succession. So it’s indeed a very high honor,” Barnard said.

Barnard said the Board has made many changes to improve since 2010 and applauded the leadership of the previous two board members who served as chairman and he noted the Board’s success since his appointment in 2010 to include a parole success rate that is currently at 74% and remains more than 20% higher than the national average.

Terry Barnard has served the past two years as vice chairman of the Parole Board. Mr. Barnard was first appointed to the Board by Governor Perdue in May of 2010. He was reappointed to a full seven year term in December of 2010. 

James Mills was appointed to the Parole Board by Governor Nathan Deal in November 2011. Mills said the Board’s decisions are not taken lightly and he thanked his colleagues.

“Thank you for this opportunity to serve. I have always believed that everything rises and falls on leadership,” Mills said.

Chairman-elect Terry Barnard

The former State Representative served nearly 16 years in the Georgia House of Representatives prior to being appointed to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. During his eight-term tenure, the Coastal Georgia Lawmaker served the state as a member of several key House Committees to include Appropriations, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Children and Youth, Rules and State Institutions and Property, where he served as the chairman for six years.

Mr. Barnard’s legislative experience and knowledge of the Georgia Department of Corrections is proving invaluable as a member of the Board. In 1995-1996, Mr. Barnard guided through the Georgia House, the framework for the State Sex Offenders Registry and Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. As a result, interested parties can easily learn if a convicted sex offender is living in a neighborhood of interest.

In 2012, Mr. Barnard was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the State Commission on Family Violence. The commission works to educate and raise awareness about family violence in Georgia. The commission evaluates services, researches the need for additional services and offers and monitors proposed legislation concerning family violence.

Mr. Barnard resides in Shellman Bluff and is a native of Tattnall County. He is a graduate of Atlantic Community College and has a strong background in business. He has owned and operated several businesses, among those a Real Estate Brokerage. With over 18 years of experience in the financial industry, he served as Vice President and Manager of First Citizens Bank of Reidsville, and as a regional marketing director for Green Tree Acceptance, a national mortgage lender.

He is involved in a local Baptist Church and takes part in many community events and activities.

Vice Chairman-elect James Mills

Board Member James W. Mills, of Hall County, was sworn in as a member of the Parole Board on November 14, 2011. The former State Representative served nineteen years in the legislature representing the 25th district. Mr. Mills served as Secretary of the Rules Committee and was a member of the Appropriations, Banks and Banking, and the Ways and Means committees. He also served previously as chairman of the Banks and Banking Committee.

During his legislative service, Mr. Mills has sponsored or helped pass notable and important legislation. His amendment placed “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the Georgia state flag. Mr. Mills passed “proof of citizenship when registering to vote” legislation. He also helped pass the Georgia Mortgage Fraud law allowing district attorneys to prosecute mortgage fraud. Mr. Mills also passed the “Option of Adoption” legislation, the first of its kind in the nation.

Mr. Mills was named Christian Coalition Legislator of the Year in 2001. In 2007, he was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Georgia Retail Association and he received the “Outstanding American Award.” The same year he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of the “Pro-Life Hero” award from the Georgia Right to Life organization and in 2007 was named the Pro-Life Hero Legislator by the Justice Foundation.

Mr. Mills is a successful businessman, who owns and operates mini storage warehouse businesses. He has been invited to the White House on two occasions as recognition for his tax cutting efforts as a state legislator. Three times he has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Who’s Who in Finance.

Mr. Mills graduated from Mercer University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree. In 1990, he received a Master’s from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (N.O.B.T.S).

Mr. Mills is involved in many youth community activities and he’s led numerous overseas mission trips through his local church. Mr. Mills is from Gainesville.

The Board consists of five full-time members who make parole decisions. During FY 2013, the Board made more than 88,000 clemency decisions regarding parole cases.

For more information on the Parole Board please visit our website at www.pap.georgia.gov.

           

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