Except for the anachronistic office of constable in Arkansas, the lieutenant governor's office might just be the Rodney Dangerfield of government.
For those too young to remember Dean Martin Roasts and Johnny Carson, or who missed the now-gone Dangerfield as the incompatible new country club member in "Caddyshack," he is a legendary comedian who made a living off stand-up routines about how he "got no respect." Even he, however, got more respect than constables and the lieutenant governor's office.
What’s The Point?
As two lawmakers press to eliminate Arkansas’ lieutenant governor’s office, the state has a chance to examine real reforms for state leadership.
Other people have recounted how Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, who served as Arkansas' lieutenant governor from 1996 until his death in 2006, used to tell audiences he was like a spare tire in Arkansas government: They kept him pumped up, but left him in the dark and hoped they never needed him.
The office has only two official duties. Its holder presides over the Arkansas Senate when that legislative body is in session (a few months each year these days). He also steps in as governor if the elected officeholder dies or is otherwise incapacitated. The lieutenant governor serves as governor when the real governor leaves the state, but recent changes limited his ability to do much.
The last holder of the office was Springdale's own Mark Darr, who earned the office in 2010 but resigned early this year over ethics violations involving improper use of campaign funds. The office has been vacant ever since, thanks to the state Legislature's decision to grant the governor permission not to temporarily fill it. Three men will vie to earn the post in the Nov. 4 election.
State Sens. Keith Ingram and Jimmy Hickey hope the man elected might be the last lieutenant governor the state ever needs. They've announced plans for a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the office entirely by 2019.
The two are on to something, although we're not sure their specific proposal is the right way to go. It would establish the attorney general as the successor to the governor's office.
Arkansas has seven constitutional officers -- governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and land commissioner. The functions of auditor, treasurer and land commissioner -- whose occupants usually only make headlines when they get caught doing something wrong -- could be consolidated into existing departments headed by people hired by the governor.
Maybe a lieutenant governor would be worth having around if the position had real responsibility for some state functions. One problem today is the governor and lieutenant governor are separately elected. The posts can, and often are, held by people of opposing parties and starkly different political philosophies. It's hard to imagine any two state officers being more different than Gov. Mike Beebe and Darr, the man who was the next in line to fill Beebe's post if something happened to the governor. Why would a Democratic governor ever want a Republican No. 2 taking the lead on anything, or vice versa.
If lawmakers want to make revisions, let's make the lieutenant governor's office meaningful and join the two top offices together as a ticket, much like we elect the president and vice president. Reform could also include a reduction of state officers and redirection of duties under the governor's executive branch functions.
Just eliminating the lieutenant governor doesn't solve all the issues related to leadership and good government at the state Capitol.
Commentary on 08/25/2014