Lieutenant Governors Office of Lieutenant Governor: Unheralded but Critical Leadership By Julia Hurst Occupants of the office of lieutenant governor provide unheralded but critical leadership, as demonstrated across the past decade. This often overlooked office steadily performs its function, providing quiet, stable leadership, even in times of crisis. From the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks through the Great Recession, lieutenant governors led at critical junctures both individually and through use of their collective voice. Events demonstrate this office continues to grow in its critical leadership role in states and territories.

Introduction The 2000s were a transformational decade of elections this decade. Former Colorado Lt. Gov. “100-megaton events” that reshaped the U.S. Jane Norton served on the board of directors of physically and psychologically, according to Barry the International Foundation for Election Systems Horstman of The Cincinnati Enquirer. He notes in 2003–04, contributing leadership to efforts to terrorist attacks, two wars, $4-a-gallon gas, a tanking assist Afghanistan as it prepared for its first free economy, the 2000 presidential election resolved presidential elections. not by voters but by the U.S. Supreme Court, the In March 2008, Former Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Her- disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia during bert, who later became governor by succession, and re-entry, the Virginia Tech massacre, worries from former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury Y2K to H1N1, global warming, Katrina and other led all the nation’s lieutenant governors in adding natural disasters of massive scope here and abroad. voice to national debate on elections. The members Amidst a decade of nation-changing events, every of the National Lieutenant Governors Association event had as a core underpinning the participation (NLGA) unanimously endorsed the Rotating and quiet leadership of a lieutenant governor. Regional Presidential Primaries plan. Lieutenant governors collectively stated they endorsed a Elections Regional Primary concept designed to ensure each To start the decade, the 2000 presidential election state and region of the nation has an opportunity contest between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and to influence presidential primaries and to prevent Vice President resulted in a month of the front loading of the national primary system. uncertainty about the succession of the nation’s top elected leader in the country known as the seat Technology of world democracy. The U.S. Supreme Court ulti- Horstman also noted with irony that the decade mately resolved the dispute, but the enormity of which began with unfounded Y2K worries about a this election issue resulted in an intensive review massive computer crash ended with technological of elections process in nearly every state and terri- advances of unprecedented scale. YouTube, iPods, tory. In seven states and territories, the same offi- Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerrys and high-def TV cial serves as head of elections and first in line of are fixtures of daily life in 2010. The decade’s explo- gubernatorial succession. sive leapfrog of technology had enormous impact By law, the lieutenant governors of Alaska and for both state government and the policies its offi- Utah oversee elections. By gubernatorial appoint- cials set or promote. Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy ment, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno will chairs the state Information Technology Commis- serve dually as secretary of state certifying elec- sion overseeing technology investments in govern- tions. In Arizona, Oregon, Wyoming and Puerto ment, education, health care and more. Connecticut Rico, the secretaries of state oversee elections and Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele is co-chair of the Judicial serve as first in line of gubernatorial succession, i.e. Information Technology System task force and part serve as lieutenant governor. Still other lieutenant of the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic governors have shaped the futures of international Development (WIRED) Initiative.

The Council of State Governments 1 Lieutenant Governors

With leadership from Kentucky Lt. Gov. Daniel The Congressional Base Realignment and Clo- Mongiardo, a physician, NLGA members have sure (BRAC) process of 2005 saw more than a taken a collective position in support of health half-dozen lieutenant governors tapped to lead information technology systems. Former state efforts to retain bases. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who later became governor by Beverly Perdue, later elected governor, established succession, sponsored an NLGA-passed resolution the state Military Foundation, a public-private- to bridge the digital divide in bringing broadband military sector effort to bolster the state’s military to rural and remote areas. Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter economy. Brown enters this decade leading Mary- Kinder chaired that state’s Rural High-Speed land’s preparation for the influx of military, which Internet Task Force, while more than a half-dozen will occur as a result of BRAC. lieutenant governors submitted testimony to the Federal Communications Commission in 2009 as Energy part of the FCC work to devise a 2010 strategy to A Northeast power blackout on Aug. 14, 2003, left deploy broadband. 50 million people in eight states and two Canadian provinces in the dark and cost $6 billion, accord- Homeland Security and Defense ing to the state Energy Infrastructure Special Task A defining moment of American history occurred Force, chaired by Quinn. The early part of the on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorist attacks destroyed decade also saw a Western U.S. energy crisis and an the World Trade Center and damaged the Penta- emergency order and rolling blackouts in Califor- gon. On that day, the words “homeland security” nia. People also suffered as gasoline prices spiraled entered the nation’s daily lexicon and states were up to $4 a gallon in 2008. Again, lieutenant gover- faced with yet another significant, immediate nors provided underlying leadership, bringing both leadership and policy need. Emergency plans for some stability and daily and long-term planning on leadership succession, which had become often the decade’s most challenging issues. overlooked, now became a critical state manage- Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell was the chief nego- ment item. The one shared duty of every lieutenant tiator and spokesman regarding the establishment governor is to become governor should a vacancy of a gasoline pipeline, which had potential to impact in the office occur. Lieutenant governors are called not only his state, but also the lower 48. Lieutenant on to lead daily, always preparing for tomorrow, to governors also contributed to implementing energy provide a seamless transition in time of need, often conservation programs and the production of re- during a crisis. newable energy. Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, The office of lieutenant governor itself is a who later became governor through succession, critical element of homeland security emergency chaired the state’s Wind Working Group. As gover- management planning. Many governors and states nor, he noted the state beat the goal of 10 percent tapped this official to take the lead on homeland renewable energy by 2010. Kansas has continued security issues. Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and building additional wind farms and Parkinson bro- Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy are their state’s kered an end to a two-year stalemate over con- respective homeland security directors. The lieu- struction of a new coal-fired power plant. Wisconsin tenant governors of Indiana, Utah and Vermont Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton led a series of proposals were named chair of their state’s respective home- in a Green Economy Agenda, which included the land security or counterterrorism commissions. Energy Star tax holiday legislation and the Energy The terrorist attack on the United States led to Star School Challenge, as well as leading passage wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maryland Lt. Gov. of a 2004 NLGA resolution on energy. Likewise, Anthony Brown and Guam Lt. Gov. Michael Cruz Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki leads energy efforts are Bronze Star recipients for service in the con- as a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy flicts. On April 3, 2003, days after the U.S. entered Conservation Task Force and as Economic Devel- Iraq, lieutenant governors were the first group of opment Task Force Commission Chair. state officials to pass a resolution in support of the men and women of the armed forces. Lieutenant Aerospace governors continue in leadership support of the The disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia military. Initiated by Quinn of Illinois, NLGA was during re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003, caused Americans the first association of its type to endorse and urge to look heavenward. America’s status as a world states to pass military family relief funds. space leader and a significant engine of the nation’s

2 The Book of the States 2010 Lieutenant Governors economy seemed in crisis. The auto and aerospace as the state’s Homeland Security director, is in industries are the spines of American manufac­ charge of flood recovery efforts. On Sept. 29, 2009, turing. As far back as 1989, the nation’s lieutenant an earthquake triggered a tsunami in American governors publicly recognized the vital role of Samoa. Lt. Gov. Aito Sunia led initial recovery aerospace to the states’ economies. From then efforts as acting governor while the governor was until now, dozens of lieutenant governors have out of the state. assumed leadership mantles within the aerospace In addition to homeland security and disaster industries. recovery roles, lieutenant governors work on emer- Lieutenant governors in Oklahoma and Colo- gency preparedness, which have taken on new rado have long-standing roles as leaders in annual importance in the past decade. The Rhode Island state aerospace conventions. Vermont Lt. Gov. lieutenant governor is statutorily the chair of the Brian Dubie helped found his state’s Aerospace Emergency Management Planning commission, a and Aviation Association. Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff similar role held by the lieutenant Kottkamp is chairman of the board of Space governor. In these various roles, lieutenant gover- Florida, while Hawaii Lt. Gov. James “Duke” nors have lent important leadership to government Aiona spearheads a myriad of state aerospace planning and response to bird flu, H1N1 and pan- and robotics efforts. More than a half-dozen cur- demic planning. rent and former lieutenant governors from New Mexico, Florida and Virginia have actively sup- Crisis Leadership ported spaceports. Through NLGA, lieutenant Many lieutenant governors automatically become governors have passed bipartisan resolutions not- acting governor when a governor leaves the state. ing aerospace as an economic development engine, Still others assume the post under a variety of cri- supporting NASA and various objectives, and sis circumstances, and others as necessary. On resolving to assist in helping the U.S. remain the April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech suffered the deadliest world’s leader in space development. shooting rampage in U.S. history when 33 people were killed by a lone gunman. The governor was Disaster Response out of the country, and Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bol- and Emergency Preparedness ling led early and immediate state government Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans in response. On Aug. 1, 2007, the I-35W bridge in August 2005, causing massive levee failures and Minnesota collapsed during rush hour, killing 13 flooding approximately 80 percent of the city. people and injuring 145. Seventy-five local, state In Mississippi, CBS News reported that officials and federal agencies were involved in the three calculated 90 percent of the structures within week rescue and recovery effort. Lt. Gov. Carol half a mile of the Gulf coastline were completely Molnau led response efforts in her role as Trans- destroyed. Effects also were felt in Alabama and portation Department commissioner. Her appoint- Florida. More than 1,800 people lost their lives in ment to that role was made by the governor, but the hurricane and subsequent floods, and damage legislatures can act statutorily to place a lieutenant estimates exceeded $100 billion. governor in a role of departmental leader. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu is a member of the Unified Command Group in the Governor’s Economic Development and Recovery Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Pre- The nation ended the decade with a recession paredness and has served as a key member of this marked by, among other things, a mortgage and leadership group during four major hurricanes. housing collapse, bank failures, rising unemploy- Statutorily charged to be head of Culture, Recre- ment and a drop in international trade. Lieutenant ation and Tourism, Landrieu engaged in activities governors in several states led efforts to keep resi- to help restore New Orleans’ tourism base. He dents in their homes as foreclosure rates spiraled oversaw the Hurricane Recovery Grants for His- in the country. Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray toric Properties program, which processed 2,000 is chair of the Interagency Council on Housing and applications in just 45 days without controversy. Homelessness, while Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp In June 2008, storms caused hundreds of square chaired the Governor’s Home Ownership Council. miles in Iowa to flood, impacting a third of the Former Delaware Lt. Gov. John Carney chaired a state and generating an economic toll in excess of foreclosure council and Lt. Gov. John $5 billion. Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, who serves Bohlinger chairs a Homelessness Council, while

The Council of State Governments 3 Lieutenant Governors

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder sits on the state Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell succeeded on July 26, housing commission. 2009, and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert succeeded on Lieutenant governors play significant economic Aug. 11, 2009. Two more gubernatorial successions development roles across the country. Two Ohio were possible in 2009 as the New Mexico governor lieutenant governors this decade were Develop- was considered, but later withdrew, for a presiden- ment Department directors, while the lieutenant tial cabinet post and when the South Carolina leg- governors of Louisiana and Nevada lead tourism islature considered impeaching its governor. efforts in their states. North Dakota Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple serves as chair of the state’s Interna- Conclusion tional Trade Commission. During his November As a new decade dawns, history demonstrates the 2009 investment mission, Michigan Lt. Gov. John office of lieutenant governor, by its very nature, Cherry secured a deal to locate an Israeli water will continue to be an office of state government technology company in the state. The Washington that is what it was designed to be, an essential daily lieutenant governor is statutorily chair of the joint and long-term post. The terrorist attacks at the Legislative Committee on Economic Development start of decade and the economic meltdown near and International Relations. In 2010, Bolling in its end left people in need of reassurance. Lieu- Virginia begins his role as chief job creation officer tenant governors provide unheralded but critical for the governor, and Guadagno will head the leadership in an essential state office. Partnership for Action, a new economic develop- ment group in New Jersey. The U.S. Agency for References International Development is in partnership with Barry Horstman, “Decade of Disruption,” Cincinnati/ NLGA to engage lieutenant governors in economic Kentucky Enquirer, (December 25, 2009). development relations with officials in Mexico. Personal Initiative About the Author The daily role of a lieutenant governor permits Julia Hurst has nearly 20 years of state government transformative leadership through personal initia- experience having served as executive director of the tive and action as well. More than half the NLGA National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) membership preside over state senates. In North since 2002. She formerly served as chief operating officer of The Council of State Governments, as chief of staff to a Carolina, former Lt. Gov. Perdue’s tie-breaking legislative caucus, and spent time as a multi-state lobbyist vote created a North Carolina state lottery. In the in fields ranging from health care to telecommunications. summer of 2009, a New York gubernatorial succes- sion left the office of lieutenant governor vacant. The absence of the tie-breaking vote of that official ultimately led to a 31-day senate shutdown caused by a tie-vote stalemate on leadership. Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter championed passage of legislation allowing voters to create a state lottery funding college scholarship. The office of lieutenant gov- ernor itself saw another transformation as New Jersey passed a constitutional amendment creating the office for the first time in history, electing its first as the decade closed. Gubernatorial Succession Twenty gubernatorial successions occurred dur- ing the past 10 years. At the end of the decade, the majority of the nation’s largest states were led by former lieutenant governors. Five lieuten- ant governors succeeded in 2009 alone. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer both succeeded in January of 2009, while Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson succeeded on April 29, 2009,

4 The Book of the States 2010