Vote on governor-lieutenant governor ticket OK’d

January 27, 2010 by senatormcconnell

Voters would decide in November whether candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run on a ticket rather than separately under a measure approved by a legislative panel.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the resolution by a 9-6 vote on Tuesday. The House bill now heads to the Senate floor for debate.

It will require a two-thirds majority to pass the Senate and the House would have to go along with changes which the Senate included.

The lieutenant governor would remain in charge of the state Office on Aging. But it would be up to the governor to decide what other duties his lieutenant governor would perform.

Republican Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens argued lieutenant governors aren’t needed and the office should be eliminated.