THE PLAIN DEALER Parole Board Chief Removed; Link To Spirko Decision Denied Saturday, October 22, 2005 Associated Press Columbus- The Ohio Parole Board chairman who presided over the only capital clemency case to get two hearings has been removed from the position. But a state corrections department spokeswoman says the transfer of Gary Croft to an administrative job within the agency had nothing to do with his handling of John Spirko's clemency case. Spokeswoman Andrea Dean says Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Reginald Wilkinson just thought it was time for a change. "The move doesn't have anything to do with the Spirko case," Dean added. "Had that been the case, he would have been removed after the first clemency hearing." Wilkinson named board member Cynthia Mausser on Thursday as Croft's interim replacement. Croft, a former prison warden, had been chairman for three years. Croft approved an unprecedented second-chance clemency hearing for Spirko, 59, who was convicted of the 1982 kidnapping and murder of a northwest Ohio postmaster. At the second hearing, members again recommended that Spirko's execution move forward. Gov. Bob Taft has the final say. Spirko's execution is scheduled for Nov. 15 Email: Tracy Spirko, John Spirko's Representative