Many also favor lieutenant governor position

Local officials voice concern over one person simultaneously holding offices in legislative and executive branches of state governement.

By: Lauren Burgoon and Dana Flatekval
   Gov. James McGreevey’s resignation and his refusal to step down in time for a special gubernatorial election means that state Senate President Richard Codey will hold top legislative and executive offices for 14 months. The circumstances have local politicians weighing in on a new issue raised throughout the state — should New Jersey have a lieutenant governor?
   This is the second time in recent history when a senate president also will serve as acting governor for an extended period. In 2001 Donald DiFrancesco held the dual offices for a year after Gov. Christie Whitman was appointed head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
   In most states a lieutenant governor would take up the reins if the governor leaves office early for whatever reason. But New Jersey is one of eight states without an elected lieutenant governor. It is an exclusion that some politicians predict will be addressed first thing when the Legislature convenes for a new session next month.
   "We were the butt of a few jokes when the state went through a succession of governors a couple of years ago but now this is clearly an issue whose time has come," state Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-12th, said. "I don’t think it was intended for someone to hold both seats for a long period of time."
   Sen. Karcher said she is confident that Sen. Codey would do an excellent job as senator and acting governor but that the constitution’s current rules put too much power into the hands of one person.
   State Sen. Robert Singer, R-30th, also advocates an elected lieutenant governor for New Jersey.
   "I support it 100 percent. This is the second time we’ve had a governor resigning either for personal reasons or finding a new job and we need to do something about this," he said Tuesday. "Now the state senator will have to hold both offices and that is a big conflict. You have one person controlling both the legislative and executive branches."
   Ron Dancer, who is both the Plumsted mayor and assemblyman for the 30th Legislative District, added that he thinks it is unconstitutional for someone to serve simultaneously in two branches of government.
   Allowing voters to elect a lieutenant governor would take more than a year under the best circumstances because it would involve changing the state’s constitution.
   Albert Porroni, executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, said that three-fifths of both the Senate and Assembly would have to approve the change. If the houses cannot get support of three-fifths of the members, the question would have to be approved by a majority for two years straight. Then the question would go before voters for final approval during a general election.
   The lieutenant governor could be elected separately or on a ticket with gubernatorial candidates, depending on what language the Legislature uses. Duties also could vary.
   According to information from the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors, most states do not have prescribed duties but serve as department heads and on commissions. Many also preside over the state senate.
   Area municipal officials weighed in this week on the lieutenant governor question. Various officials serving in Allentown, Plumsted, Millstone and Washington support creating the position for reasons such as accountability and a reliable back up.
   "Absolutely, I do think we need to have a lieutenant governor that is elected," Washington Deputy Mayor Doug Tindall, a Republican, said Tuesday. "People need to know that if something happens there will be someone to take over."
   Others have not thought through the potential addition.
   "I haven’t given it much thought because there has never been a need for it before," said Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja, also a Republican, adding that the current situation with Gov. McGreevey is taking advantage of the constitution’s rules for an acting governor.