© 2024 KRCU Public Radio
90.9 Cape Girardeau | 88.9-HD Ste. Genevieve | 88.7 Poplar Bluff
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Nixon Says He Has Authority To Appoint Lt. Governor If Vacant

Missouri Lieutenant Governor

Aside from Medicaid expansion, the most talked-about issue so far during the just-begun Missouri legislative session is whether Governor Jay Nixon has the authority to appoint a new Lt. Governor if Peter Kinder succeeds Republican Jo Ann Emerson in Congress.

Following his annual Prayer Breakfast, Governor Nixon told reporters he believes he has the authority to appoint a new Lt. Governor if the office suddenly becomes vacant.

“The two times in recent history where that position has become open for reasons, the Governor has appointed a Lt. Governor and those folks served,” Nixon said. “So I think history would say that that authority lies there, yeah.”

GOP House Speaker Pro-tem Jason Smith disagrees.  He says current law requires a special election for Lt. Governor, but admits it’s unclear as to how it’s to be carried out:

“State Rep, State Senate, Lt. Governor, it’s like the Recorder of Deeds of St. Louis County, and (county) sheriffs…that’s what the law provides, but it does not provide on how to enforce those special elections (for Lt. Governor), unlike those other sections,” Smith said.

Smith is sponsoring legislation that would allow special elections for ALL vacated statewide offices, but would schedule them in November to coincide with other races.  Smith is also seeking to replace southeast Missouri Republican Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, along with Lt. Governor Kinder, fellow State House Member Todd Richardson, GOP Executive Director Lloyd Smith, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, former Congressman Wendell Bailey, and former State Senator Jason Crowell.