Brawner: State Government’s Spare Tire

Stephens Media columnist Steve Brawner provides options for what to do with the Lt. Governor’s office in the future.

As a former staffer for Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller, Branwer has knowledge of the office and recalls the line his one-time boss often used to describe the position – “state government’s spare tire: kept in the dark, pumped up and hopefully never used.”

Branwer thinks the office could use a makeover or be dissolved. Here are his suggestions:

What to do with state government’s spare tire? There are several options.

Number one, abolish it. Let the governor run free like the wind from state to state without worrying what the lieutenant governor will do while he’s away. This option seems unlikely, in part because too many legislators want to run for lieutenant governor. It’s a political steppingstone with a paid staff.

Number two, make it more of a real job. Just because the constitution lists only two duties doesn’t mean more can’t be added by statute or practice. Make the lieutenant governor the head of the Department of Parks and Tourism or the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, for examples, so he or she can become an ambassador for Arkansas. The advantage to this option: No constitutional amendment required.

Number three, elect the governor and the lieutenant governor on the same ticket so that they are running mates during the election and then can work as a team once in office.

You can read Brawner’s full take at this link.