Committee recommends confirmation for three gubernatorial appointments, sends them to the Senate

The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee on Thursday voted by voice to send three gubernatorial appointments to the full Senate with recommendations for confirmation.

Senators moved and seconded motions to forward the nominations of Ashley Dowell as director of the Department of Juvenile Corrections, Corey Barrier to the Offender Management Board, and Luke Malek to the State Board of Correction. The committee used voice votes for each item and recorded the motions as carrying.

Why it matters: Sending a nomination "to the floor with a recommendation that [the nominee] be confirmed" signals committee support and advances each nomination to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.

Ashley Dowell: Senator Wintrow moved to send the appointment of Ashley Dowell to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation; Senator Ricks seconded. After a voice vote the chair said, "motion carries," and the committee recorded the appointment to be carried to the Senate.

Corey Barrier: The committee then took up the appointment of Corey Barrier to the Offender Management Board. Senator Wintrow moved to send the appointment to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation; a second was recorded from Senator Rekdi. The committee again used a voice vote and the chair announced the motion carried.

Luke Malek: Senator Ricks moved that Luke Malek be sent to the floor with a recommendation for confirmation to the State Board of Correction; Senator Lent seconded. During discussion Senator Lenny announced for the record that she would vote "no" on that appointment. The committee then took a voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried and the appointment will be forwarded to the full Senate with a recommendation for confirmation. The committee did not record a roll-call tally for any of the three items; votes were taken by voice.

Procedural note: The committee used the standard practice of recommending confirmation and forwarding nominations to the Senate; final confirmation requires action by the full Senate.

Votes recorded in committee were voice votes; individual roll-call tallies were not provided in the committee record.