Panel Oks bill to change Lt. Gov. candidate selection

The House committee that covers election issues approved a bill that would allow gubernatorial candidates to pick their running mates after the primary elections.

The bill would eliminate the requirement for candidates running for governor to find a lieutenant governor candidate in order to run in the race. It passed the committee 8-0 with Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg and a former running mate on last year's gubernatorial ticket headed by Bruce Lunsford, opting to pass.

It would allow the winning primary candidates more time to make the selection and "perhaps even consider a person he ran against during the primary," said Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro, the sponsor of the measure, H.B. 757.

The bill, if approved by the full General Assembly, would take effect before the 2011 governors race. And if approved, it would allow Gov. Steve Beshear to choose someone other than Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo if he wished but risk the political fallout, Thompson told reporters later.

Rep. Larry Clark, D-Louisville, said he was concerned that such a move might open up the field to as many as a dozen Democratic contenders for governor. Last year's primary drew seven slates of candidates.

"We'll have almost some dummy candidates running," he said. "I think it just creates havoc in the Democratic primary. We'll go from five to 11. I just don't think voters want more candidates."

Thompson, however, said the presidential race has served as a successful model for the process of picking a running mate after the primary.

Rep. Melvin Henley, D-Murray, couldn't resist getting in a reference to the current flap between Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, in which Obama said Monday he didn't see why someone in "second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who is in first place."

"I just see the danger in number twos asking number one to be their running mates," Henley said.

One other piece of good-natured inside political ribbing:  Secretary of State Trey Grayson, in adding his support of the bill, told the committee that someone who chooses to announce a running mate before the primary could do so -- it just wouldn't be binding.

He used Clark as an example, saying Clark could inform voters he sought to name Rep. Rob Wilkey, D-Scottsville, as his running mate, it would allow voters to see that as either an asset or a detraction.

"This would be like No. 2 picking No. 1," Wilkey quipped.

Clark and Wilkey were the two House Democratic leaders who teamed up to push for a certain version of a casino constitutional amendment, which ended up falling short.

Clark told Grayson that he appreciated the nomination but added, "We can't even get a bill out of this committee."

- Ryan Alessi

Comments

[anony]

"I just don't think voters want more candidates."

Speak for yourself, Rep. Clark!