Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut

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The Lieutenant Governor of the State of Connecticut is an elected constitutional officer, the second ranking officer of the executive branch, and the first officer in line to succeed the Governor of Connecticut. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years on a ticket with the governor and has no term limit.

Current officeholder

The 88th and current lieutenant governor is Nancy Wyman, a Democrat elected in 2010. Before becoming lieutenant governor, Wyman served 16 years as state comptroller. Prior to joining the state's executive department as comptroller, Wyman served as a state representative from 1987 to 1995. Before entering politics, she was a member of the Tolland Board of Education. She and her husband, Michael, have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Authority

The state constitution establishes the office of the governor in Article IV, the Executive Department.

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 1

A general election for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of the state, treasurer and comptroller shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 1966, and quadrennially thereafter.

Qualifications

Governors
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2012 • 2011 • 2010 Lists of candidates
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2012 • 2011 • 2010
Breaking news

All lieutenant gubernatorial candidates must be at least 30 years old and a registered voter and resident of Connecticut on the day of the election (§ 5).

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 5

A general election for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of the state, treasurer and comptroller shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 1966, and quadrennially thereafter.

Elections

See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state

See also: Election of lieutenant governors

Connecticut elects lieutenant governors to four year terms in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For Connecticut, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 are all lieutenant gubernatorial election years. Legally, the lieutenant gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Wednesday following the first Monday in the January following an election. Thus, January 5, 2011 and January 7, 2015 are inaugural days.

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

There are no term limits for the office of lieutenant governor of Connecticut.

History

The constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor, for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the same ticket; this provision was added in 1962. In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Before the adoption of the 1965 constitution, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor.

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

If the office of lieutenant governor becomes vacant, the president pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate becomes lieutenant governor.

Connecticut Constitution, Article IV, Section 19

If the lieutenant-governor succeeds to the office of governor, or if the lieutenant-governor dies, resigns, refuses to serve or is removed from office, the president pro tempore of the senate shall, upon taking the oath of office of lieutenant-governor, be lieutenant-governor of the state until another is chosen at the next regular election for lieutenant-governor and is duly qualified. Within fifteen days of the administration of such oath the senate, if the general assembly is in session, shall elect one of its members president pro tempore. In case of the inability of the lieutenant-governor to exercise the powers and perform the duties of his office or in case of his impeachment or absence from the state, the president pro tempore of the senate shall exercise the powers and authority and perform the duties appertaining to the office of lieutenant-governor until the disability is removed or, if the lieutenant-governor has been impeached, he is acquitted or, if absent, he has returned.

Duties

The Lieutenant Governor is, by virtue of her office, President of the Senate; he has a right to debate in the committee of the whole and is also able to cast a tie-breaking vote.

He has such other responsibilities and duties as the governor shall assign.

Compensation

See also: Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries

The lieutenant governor's pay is set by law and may not be increased or diminished effective during the current term.

As of 2010, the lieutenant governor is paid $110,000 a year, the 15th highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America.

Contact information

State Capitol
210 Capitol Avenue - Room 304
Hartford, CT 06106

Tel: 860-524-7384
Fax: 860-524-7304

See also

• Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman
• Lieutenant Governor

External links

• Office of the Lieutenant Governor website
• Official state website of Connecticut