We don’t need a Lt. Governor
Running for a sixth term in 1954, Oklahoma Lt. Governor James E. Berry touted the fact that he had built a reputation for cooperating with the Governors under which he served, patted himself on the back for fulfilling the limited functions of the Lt. Governor’s office, and pointed out that the state Senate gave him a nice plaque. Berry was able to continue his career as a Stillwater banker along with his National Guard service as well as serve as Lt. Governor. If that makes it sound as though the Lt. Governor’s job is not particularly crucial, that’s because it isn’t. In fact, for most of our state’s history if the office became vacant between elections there was no provision to appoint a replacement. In the two instances where Oklahoma governors have been impeached and removed from office the Lt. Gov. took over and the state did just fine without a Lt. Governor. From 1924 through 1930 the office was vacant for more time than it was occupied.
As part of a package of reforms, a group of corporate leaders going by the name of Step Up Oklahoma is calling for Lt. Governor candidates to run on the same ticket with gubernatorial candidates. This is the practice in 25 other states, while 18 states including Oklahoma have the two offices separate. But 5 states don’t have a Lt. Governor at all, and 2 more give the title to the leader of their state senate.
The Lt. Governor of Oklahoma is the ex officio president of the state Senate, able to preside over procedural matters, and may vote in cases of a tie. However, the President pro tempore of the Senate is the real leader of the body and is considered the state’s second-highest ranking official. The Lt. Gov. also participates on ten state boards and commissions. The real power of the office, such as it is, is that the Lt. Gov. becomes Governor if that office should become vacant and that the Lt. Gov. serves as acting governor during times that the chief executive is out of state.
The last four Lt. Governors of Oklahoma have all become gubernatorial candidates.
So, with little actual work to do, a prominent office, and a state-provided security detail, how do Lt. Governors spend their time? They go around the state meeting with people and getting their picture taken. This just so happens to be a handy thing to be doing if you’d like to be the next Governor. In fact, the last four Lt. Governors have become gubernatorial candidates. Jack Mildren, Mary Fallin, and Jari Askins all won the gubernatorial nomination of their party, and current Lt. Gov Todd Lamb is one of the leaders for the GOP nomination this year. Regardless of state statute, by all appearances the main function of the office appears to be to allow the occupant to run for Governor for four or eight years.
Seven states get by just fine without a Lt. Governor, and we can too. Step Up Oklahoma is right that what we have now should be changed, but the change should be to just eliminate the office where the occupant does nothing but campaign to be the next Governor. The state Senate president pro tempore can take over the Lt. Governor’s meager duties in that body, the board positions can be filled by gubernatorial appointment, and the Secretary of State can be named the successor to the Governor if a vacancy occurs. There is so little of value done by the Lt. Gov. that the financial savings will be small, but that just speaks to the fact that no one will miss this office when it’s gone, except those who want a well-paying, high-visibility, low-responsibility government job and think they can win it. Let’s get rid of this useless office.
