It’s lonely near the top

Let’s face it. The ins and outs of political calculations are beyond mere mortals — and that includes understanding why anyone would want to serve as lieutenant governor, a position with little power and more than a few headaches. Yet six Democrats (at last count) are running for their party’s nomination for the job, while one Republican currently seems to have the position tied up. One of the Democratic candidates, as we learned this weekend, is Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales. He joined already announced candidates — teacher Jeff Carr, Rio Rancho resident David McTeigue, Doña Ana County Commissioner Billy Garrett, former state Rep. Rick Miera and Sen. Howie Morales. This is a wide-open field. (On the GOP side, only one candidate is currently announced, Michelle Garcia Holmes, a retired Albuquerque Police Department detective and former candidate for mayor of Albuquerque.)

Obviously, the position can attract smart, talented people. We agree with former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who told reporter Andrew Oxford that the job is what you make it. She formed a Children’s Cabinet and with support of then-Gov. Bill Richardson, worked hard to promote early childhood education and the welfare of children. With the right person and the governor’s support, a lieutenant governor has much to contribute.

At the same time, we’re unpersuaded that a perennially cash-strapped state should spend hundreds of thousands a year on this office — especially when the line of succession could be handled differently, either falling to the secretary of state or to a leader of the state Senate. The work that topnotch lieutenant governors do, whether seeking out new businesses, filling in for the governor, working on children’s issues and the like, also could be parceled out. Eliminating the office could save about half a million dollars a year. There’s the $85,000-a-year annual salary as well as the costs of keeping the office going. Sometimes, though, not much is going on.

The do-nothing nature of the office can grow even more pronounced when the governor and the second in command do not get along. Unlike in presidential elections, when the top candidate chooses a running mate, lieutenant governor candidates run independent of the men or women running for governor. Only after parties choose nominees does a ticket form, occasionally with two people who can’t stand each other

When Gov. Bruce King was in charge and he discovered his lieutenant, Casey Luna, was planning to run against him, King quit leaving the state (the lieutenant takes over when the governor is gone). Of his decision, King said in 1994, “I’m not going to travel with an opponent running against me that would be in charge while I was gone.”

At different times in the past, there have been proposals to eliminate the job, which would require a constitutional amendment (five states don’t have the position, by the way). Back in 2010, then-House Speaker Ben Luján said he was willing to consider eliminating the office, and the right-leaning Rio Grande Foundation has backed eliminating the position as well.

Don’t get us wrong. We think most of the candidates now in the race could take the position and make positive contributions to New Mexico. Gonzales, naturally, might want to concentrate on early childhood education and green initiatives, taking his passions from Santa Fe to a wider field. He also could become a strong ambassador for the New Mexico film industry, using the job to lobby for more film production in the state.

Morales has strengths in education, youth issues and a knowledge of Southern New Mexico; Miera brings to the race a solid understanding of the how the Legislature works with particular expertise in education and its complex funding. Carr, of course, would bring a classroom teacher’s view and Commissioner Garrett, the perspective of county governments (we’re sure he would have much to say about poorly funded state mandates that leave local entities reeling). And on the GOP side, Garcia Holmes could be an advocate for the justice system if elected.

There could be plenty of work for the lieutenant governor, especially with a chief executive who uses his second to push the administration’s agenda and policy goals. Officially, the lieutenant governor presides over the state senate and occasionally gets to cast tiebreaking votes. When the governor travels out of state, the second in command steps up. And, if anything should happen to the governor, the lieutenant governor is next in line.

However, none of those tasks serve to make the job a springboard to a bright political future. Denish, after all, is not completing a second term as governor, and it’s far from obvious what elected position (if any) current Lt. Gov. John Sanchez might seek.

All of which begs the question: Why would anyone want to be lieutenant governor?