Lawmaker Says RI Gov., Lieutenant Gov. Should Run On Same Ticket

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island deals with the aftermath of a midterm gubernatorial transition, one state lawmakers is calling for future governors to be more closely tied with their second-in-command. Sen. Roger Picard said that having the governor and lieutenant governor run as a ticket would make future transitions run more smoothly.

"Right now, our state is witnessing a transition between governor and a lieutenant governor with different ideas and priorities," Picard said. "That’s not a criticism of one or the other; it’s just that they were elected independently, each with their own separate plans and hopes for our state."

Picard's bill calls for a referendum question that would allow Rhode Island voters to decide if the two leaders should run as a ticket, which would require am amendment to the state's constitution.

"The possibility of a transition always exists, so it would make sense for the governor and lieutenant governor to be partners from the start," Picard continued. "Working as a team would make for a seamless handoff, and would assure voters that priorities aren’t going to change midterm if there is a transition."

The legislation is not new in the Rhode Island General Assembly. Picard has introduced it every year for many years, though it was never approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Because of the current transition, Picard said now is the time for voters to have a say in the future of the state's leadership.

Along with offering a smoother transition should the lieutenant governor assume the governorship, the ticket approach would allow the state's two top officers to work more closely together, Picard argued, with the lieutenant able to temporarily step in for the governor is the need arose.

Under the current system of the office running separately, Rhode Island has frequently seen governors and lieutenant governors of different parties. This included Democrat Elizabeth Roberts serving under Lincoln Chafee, an Independent, as well as Republican Donald Carcieri. Charles Fogarty, who held the office before Roberts, was also a Democrat, and served under two Republicans: Carcieri and Lincoln Almond.

This mismatch of political ideologies can lead to a disconnect between the governor and lieutenant, Picard argued.

"There are some clear advantages to electing the lieutenant governor and governor as a team, and I would like to see the people of our state have the opportunity to consider those possibilities,' Picard said.

If signed into law and the question was approved by voters, Rhode Island would join 26 other states that currently elect their top leadership as a ticket. A companion bill was introduced in the house by Rep. Robert Phillips.