Corzine should pick Secretary of State for Lt. Governor

The writers of Seinfeld famously created a television sitcom about nothing. Well, the writers of the legislatively-driven public question that has given New Jersey a lieutenant governor have created an office that does nothing...except expand government.

This year, New Jersey will join the ranks of 42 other states with the election of our first lieutenant governor.  After the June 2nd primary, the gubernatorial nominees will have 30 days to select a lieutenant governor candidate as a running mate.

The duties and functions of the current lieutenant governors from around the United States are varied: The states of Hawaii and Utah amended their respective constitutions so that the lieutenant governor would assume the powers and office of the Secretary of State. Some lieutenant governors chair boards and committees. Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst is America's most powerful, controlling the work of the Texas Senate and the budgeting process as the leader of the Legislative Budget Board.

All 42 of America's current lieutenant governors assume the powers of governor for the remainder of the four-year term if the governor vacates the office for any reason. At the federal level, our United States Constitution entrusts our vice president to serve out the rest of the term if the president leaves office during his or her term. But the same rules don't apply in New Jersey.

New Jersey's lieutenant governor is endowed without any defined duties in our newly-amended constitution. But the Office of Lieutenant Governor, which is fully-funded by taxpayers, will undoubtedly require 24-hour State Police protection, a large government staff and a well-oiled statewide campaign push for the top slot.

And that's not even the kicker. New Jersey will be the only state that will require taxpayers to fund the position of lieutenant governor, but not trust that person to carry out the remainder of the governor's term if he or she vacates the position.  Instead, the new law calls for an immediate election of a new governor and lieutenant governor at the next general election in November to serve out the unexpired term.

This begs the question, why? If we weren't satisfied with our current system that allows the senate president to become governor if the office is vacated, then we could have turned to an already established office, the New Jersey Secretary of State.  New Jersey's Secretary of State has defined duties and an established government staff.

This year's general election ballot should include the Secretary of State running with the gubernatorial nominees for a four-year term. Or we should, at the very least, transfer the functions of the Secretary of State to the newly-elected lieutenant governor.  The Secretary of State could serve out the remainder of the governor's term if it is vacated for any reason and would not cost one extra taxpayer dollar.

New Jersey's governor is the only statewide (non-federal) elected official.  Along with possessing the line item veto, our governor appoints the entire cabinet and two constitutionally-created officers, the Attorney General and the Secretary of State. They are all subject to confirmation by the New Jersey Senate, making our governor the most powerful in America.

As it stands now, on Nov. 3 we will elect America's weakest lieutenant governor while adding to an already strapped budget.  It's not too late to admit the creation of this office, as it stands, is a mistake that needs to be fixed.

The great State of New Jersey can do a lot better than this.

Christopher J. Durkin is the  County Clerk of Essex County