California Senate leader removes two parole board commissioners

California Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón effectively removed two members of the state’s Board of Parole Hearings by declining to bring their reappointments before the Senate Rules Committee. The decision followed public backlash regarding the release of two individuals, David Funston and Gregory Vogelsang, who were serving life sentences for sexual crimes against children in the 1990s.

Commissioners Patricia Cassady and Teal Kozel had served nine and three years on the board, respectively. The move to shelve their nominations allowed Democratic senators to avoid public votes on the controversial appointments and prevented Republican lawmakers from using the issue to gain political capital. Following the decision, Cassady retired and Kozel returned to her previous role as a senior psychologist supervisor within the board.