(Story distributed by The Associated Press)
June 26, 2012

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services hearing officer is Florida’s newest parole commissioner.
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet appointed Melinda Nisi Coonrod to the three-member Parole Commission on Tuesday.
Coonrood’s appointment is effective from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2018.  She replaces Monica David, whose six-year term expires Saturday.

The governor and Cabinet selected Coonrod from among three candidates selected by a nominating panel. The other nominees were Richard Davidson, a former deputy secretary in the Department of Corrections and Kim Fluharty-Denson, general counsel for the Department of Financial Services.

Coonrod has been a hearing officer handling agriculture licensing cases for more than three years. Before that she taught law at Florida State University and was an assistant state attorney in Tallahassee.