newjerseynewsroom.com

Without ceremony, Gov. Jon Corzine Friday signed legislation that imposes electoral and campaign finance requirements upon candidates who seek the position as New Jersey's first lieutenant governor.

As provided by the constitution, candidates for the post will be selected by the gubernatorial candidates and this year they will be Democrat Corzine and Republican Chris Christie. The governor elected Nov. 3 will appoint his lieutenant governor, without the advice and consent of the Senate, as either the head of a principal department or another executive or administrative state agency. The governor cannot appoint the lieutenant governor to serve as attorney general.

Under the law (A-3902), candidates for lieutenant governor and governor, who under the constitution are to seek election conjointly, will be treated as one candidate for the purposes20of campaign contribution and expenditure limits and public financing. The bill also requires that, when a gubernatorial candidate is accepting public financing and is required to participate in two debates, the candidates for lieutenant governor will be required to participate in one debate.

Under the law, a candidate for lieutenant governor must meet the same campaign financial disclosure requirements as a candidate for governor, except that the disclosure statement would be required to be filed on or before the 30th day following the day the candidate for lieutenant governor is selected by the gubernatorial candidate. This different deadline recognizes that the lieutenant governor candidate may not be selected on the same day that the gubernatorial candidate is nominated. The law also requires a candidate for lieutenant governor to disclose involvement with an issue advocacy committee, as gubernatorial candidates are required to do.

Also, the same pay-to-play laws applicable to governors and gubernatorial candidates will apply to lieutenant governor candidates and officeholders to prohibit the awarding of certain state contracts to business entities making campaign contributions. The provisions of the "Legislative and Governmental Process Activities Disclosure Act" that currently apply to the governor will also apply to the lieutenant governor, including the prohibition, after leaving office, on employment as a governmental affairs agent.

Finally, the bill gives the state Election Law Enforcement Commission the authority to issue any advisory opinions that relate to candidates for lieutenant governor, including temporary regulations that may be adopted on an emergency basis, as the commission deems necessary. The new lieutenant governor post will become effective in January when the state swears-in in its first lieutenant governor. Voters in 2005 approved a state constitutional amendment creating the new post.

"While creating this post was backed by voters and will help keep in line the historic checks and balances so valued in American democracy, we also must make sure candidates for this new position are held to high standards and expectations," said Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Hudson), a key sponsor. Assemblyman Joe Cryan (D-Union) was the co-sponsor.

"This law will impose the same tough reporting, debating and disclosure requirements the public has come to expect from their gubernatorial candidates and would ensure the public is confident their lieutenant governor candidates are abiding by the same campaign ethics and financial report requirements as those running for governor,'' Quigley said. "After all, the lieutenant governor may someday become our state's chief executive. They should face the same stringent requirements."

Neither Corzine nor Christie have selected a running mate.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM