Lieut. Gov for New Jersey?

New York, NY —

New Jersey voters tomorrow get to decide whether their state should join the 42 others that have Lieutenant Governors. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports.

If approved by voters the first Lieutenant Governor would be elected as part of a Gubenatorial ticket starting in 2009. Under the existing state constituion, if the Governor dies or steps down, the State Senate president takes over. That's why Governor Richard Codey is currently serving as both the state's top executive and as president of the senate -- something Constitutional experts say violates the state constitution's separation of powers clause.

If the referendum passes, candidiates for Governor would select a Lieutenant after their party primary. Once elected, Lieutenant Governors would be allowed to assume any cabinent post with the exception of Attorney General.

Proponents of the measure say it's helped women around the country advance poltically. Of the current 42 Lieutenant Governor's across the country 17 are women.

Opponents say the Constitutional problem of having a legilsative leader also holding the state's Governrorship could be remedied more efficiently and economically by having the acting Governor resign from the legislative post.