AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate today voted 34-0 to confirm Joseph Ponte to become the new commissioner of the Department of Corrections.

Ponte, 64, has spent more than 40 years in corrections, including 21 years with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections and the last eight in private corrections with the Corrections Corp. of America.

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Joseph Ponte

Ponte is the 11th nominee confirmed to Gov. Paul LePage’s Cabinet.