Lieutenant Governor of New York

The Lieutenant Governor of New York is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term. Official duties dictated to the lieutenant governor under the state constitution is to serve as President of the State Senate, serve as acting governor in the absence of the governor from the state or the disability of the governor, or to become governor in the event of the governor's death, impeachment or resignation. Additional statutory duties of the lieutenant governor are to serve on the impeachment court, the state defense council, and on the Board of Trustees of the College of Forestry. Republican Mary Donohue is the current lieutenant governor and is serving her second term.

Related Topics:
New York - Acting governor - College of Forestry - Republican - Mary Donohue

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Most lieutenant governors took on other duties as assigned to them by the governor. Donohue has taken on duties in the areas of small business, school violence, and land use planning, along with serving as a surrogate speaker for the governor in upstate New York. Donohue's predecessor, Betsy McCaughey Ross worked on Medicare and education policy, prior to her falling out with Pataki. Democrat Stan Lundine was active on technology and housing issues during his two terms in office.

Related Topics:
Betsy McCaughey Ross - Democrat - Stan Lundine

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While the lieutenant governor runs on a ticket with the governor in the general election, they run separate from the governor in the primary. In 1982, Mario Cuomo won the Democratic nomination for governor, but his running mate, Carl McCall lost the lieutenant governor nomination to Westchester County Executive Alfred Delbello. Delbello was elected but resigned in 1985 complaining that Cuomo did not give him anything to do.

Related Topics:
1982 - Mario Cuomo - Carl McCall - Alfred Delbello - 1985

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McCaughey Ross had been elected on a ticket with Pataki in 1994 but soon broke with him on state policy. He dropped her from his 1998 reelection ticket and she became a Democrat and ran for governor on her own.

Related Topics:
1994 - 1998

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The last lieutenant governor to succeed to the governorship was Malcolm Wilson following the 1973 resignation of Nelson Rockefeller. Cuomo was the last lieutenant governor to be elected governor.

Related Topics:
Malcolm Wilson - 1973 - Nelson Rockefeller

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