On New Year’s Eve, Sanders Reshapes Key Boards, Including Corrections

A series of appointments announced by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on New Year’s Eve would normally attract little attention. This round, however, drew notice because it included changes tied to Arkansas’ prison system.

The Board of Corrections has been at the center of ongoing controversies, including disputes over governing authority and debate over a proposed new prison in Franklin County. Nearly two years ago, the board sued Sanders and the Department of Corrections secretary at the time, Joe Profiri, who has since been succeeded by Lindsay Wallace. The lawsuit argued that recent laws improperly shifted powers reserved for the board under the Arkansas Constitution to the governor’s office, a claim the court ultimately upheld.

Against that backdrop, Sanders closed out 2025 by announcing a series of high-profile appointments to the Board of Corrections as part of a broader slate of state board and commission selections.

Changes to the Board of Corrections

Sanders replaced longtime Board of Corrections chairman Benny Magness with Jamie Barker, a former deputy chief of staff on her gubernatorial team. Barker, a resident of Paron, recently left state government for a private sector role with Gilmore Davis Consultants. His term on the board will run through Dec. 31, 2032.

Magness was first appointed to the Board of Corrections in 1999 by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee and served as chairman for 17 years. Early in Sanders’ tenure, Magness and the governor clashed over prison expansion plans and broader correctional strategy. These disagreements reflected growing tensions between the executive branch and the board over authority and direction, with the former governor sometimes seen as more closely aligned with the board during the dispute. The removal of Magness marks a significant development in that ongoing dynamic.

The new appointments are also seen as reinforcing Sanders’ position amid accusations that she is consolidating power.

Sanders also appointed Nathan Lee of Little Rock to the Board of Corrections. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2030. In another high-profile move, she named Boyce Hamlet of Conway to the Post Prison Transfer Board and designated him as chairman. Hamlet’s term will run through Jan. 14, 2032.

Allies of Sanders praised the appointments. Attorney General Tim Griffin said, “Boyce’s experience, expertise, and commitment to serving the people of Arkansas, especially his service as a member of the Arkansas Parole Board, make him an excellent choice to lead the Post Prison Transfer Board and serve on the Arkansas Board of Corrections.”

With these changes, Sanders now has increased representation on the Board of Corrections.

Additional Board and Commission Appointments

Beyond the prison related appointments, Sanders announced a broad slate of appointments and reappointments across state boards and commissions covering health care, agriculture, licensing, and workforce development. 

The selections included reappointments to boards overseeing substance abuse policy, hearing instrument dispensers, podiatric medicine, fire protection licensing, natural and cultural resources, and agricultural promotion. Additional reappointments were made to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, the Rural Medical Practice Student Loan and Scholarship Board, the Arkansas Sentencing Commission, and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

Sanders also reappointed multiple members to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing and renewed appointments to the State Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Sanitarians, and the State Medical Board. Other appointments and reappointments spanned the State Rehabilitation Council, Wine Producers Council, Workforce Development Board, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Northwest Technical Institute, State Police Retirement System, and a range of regulatory boards, including those overseeing elevator safety, HVACR licensing, liquefied petroleum gas, oil and gas, elections, public health, and plant regulation.

Corrections Remain a Central Political Issue

Corrections and public safety have long been central priorities for Republican leaders, particularly in a state with a troubled history tied to crime and incarceration. That focus has kept Arkansas’ prison system firmly in the political spotlight, and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ actions have renewed attention on the issue. Her approach, however, has drawn growing scrutiny. While support for prison expansion exists, the proposed facility in Franklin County has faced resistance, including from members of her own party, as Sanders has continued to move forward despite opposition.

Tensions have also surfaced over prison oversight, with some Republicans raising concerns about the governor’s direction and recent appointments. As prison policy remains under close scrutiny, the political consequences of these decisions are likely to continue unfolding.