AUSTIN, Texas — One of Gov. Rick Perry's nominees to the state Board of Pardons and Paroles is facing opposition from critics who say she has no criminal justice experience and is best known as a Republican campaigner and crusader against the sale of sex toys in Texas.

Shanda Perkins, a retired banker from Burleson, was appointed by Perry in February to serve on the board that has the power to grant or revoke parole, and recommend when the governor should grant clemency or a pardon.

If approved by the Senate, she would serve a term that expires in 2015.

Opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, say she is unqualified to serve on the board that sometimes makes life and death decisions.

Perkins' banking expertise includes marketing, business trusts and retirement accounts. She is also a past ambassador of the Burleson Chamber of Commerce and has been a youth pastor and Sunday school teacher.

Appearing before the Senate nominations committee on Wednesday, Perkins said she is qualified to serve on the parole board because she has often counseled youth and women who have been through drug and physical abuse and had family members in prison.

"I can bring empathy to the situation as well as uphold the law," Perkins said before her nomination was sent to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote. Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, cast the only no vote.

The panel also approved the re-nomination of board member Juanita Gonzalez and chairwoman Rissie Owens and the nomination of new member Thomas Leeper.

The ACLU sent Perry's office a letter Wednesday saying Perkins' has "no relevant qualifications for the position and no identifiable experience in the area of corrections policy" and her nomination should be withdrawn.

Perkins' approval "will fail to promote fairness on the parole board or confidence in the criminal justice system," the letter said.

No one testified against Perkins' appointment in the hearing.

Shapleigh questioned Perkins about her role in a 2004 case in Burleson where police arrested a woman who was selling sex toys in apparent violation of a city ordinance and what was Texas law at the time.

Perkins said she had informed city officers about the city ordinance that prohibited the sale of sex toys as a business or near a school.

Perkins said she did not file a criminal complaint that led to the arrest, which she called "wrong" and "terrible." The state law banning the sale of sex toys was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court in 2008.

In February, Perkins distributed fliers linking U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to President Barack Obama and abortion rights. Perry, who is running for re-election, is expected to face a tough battle with Hutchison in the Republican primary.

Perkins said her appointment was not political.

Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter, who testified in support of her nomination, said the sex toy case isn't relevant to the work of the parole board.

"To bring it up today, with all due respect, misses many larger points ... and focuses on one small event that she had little to do with," Shetter said.

Shapleigh also asked how she would vote if there was new evidence that could show a death row inmate may be mentally disabled, which would prevent them from being executed.

"I would vote against," execution, Perkins said.