Hardly a way to treat a lady. This week, the state Senate voted to further emasculate the lieutenant governor's office. The Democrat or Republican nominee for governor would choose his or her running mate. The bill's chief sponsor, Tony Rand, the Senate majority leader from Fayetteville, says it makes sense to have the lieutenant governor part of the administration team. The lieutenant governor already depends on the governor for assignments.
State government works more smoothly when the two top officials belong to the same party.
And political fund raising for the lieutenant governor's office is becoming more difficult. Rand says the measure is not about personalities. It is neither aimed at blocking Perdue from seeking re-election in 2004 or putting himself on the ticket as Gov. Mike Easley's running mate, he says. The last suggestion, produced a guffaw from Rand. Although he was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1988, Rand made it clear that the remaining political carcass was no longer worth having.