Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Thursday proposed the creation of a lieutenant governor. The purpose of the position is to address the issues created with the election of former Governor Joe Manchin to the U.S. Senate this past November.
The post would require a constitutional amendment and is part of Tomblin's proposal to solve a problem with the laws determining gubernatorial succession.
The governor made the proposal during a press conference Thursday afternoon in Charleston. Tomblin said he is putting together a panel to craft a proposal to go before the Legislature during the upcoming session.
Tomblin said he has three key goals in asking for the position of Lt. Governor to be created. First, he wants to clarify the state’s constitutional succession for the post of governor and to do so at as little cost to the taxpayer as possible. He also wants the position to have real constitutional authority, not simply a figurehead who only receives authority when the governor’s office must be unexpectedly filled.