A view of the dome atop the Arizona Capitol Museum at the State Capitol in Phoenix. January 2021.
State lawmakers may once again ask voters to create a position for a lieutenant governor.
Arizona is one of only five states that does not have such an office.
Instead, if the governor steps down or is removed, the secretary of state takes over.
But Republican Sen. J.D. Mesnard argues that has happened frequently enough in Arizona that is worth clarifying the line of succession.
"We've had folks pass away, we've had folks get appointed to other things, we've had folks get indicted, unfortunately," Mesnard told the House Government and Elections Committee on Wednesday.
The senator is proposing the gubernatorial nominees of each party pick a running mate to serve as lieutenant governor and that they be elected as one ticket, similar to how a president chooses a vice president. The first lieutenant governor would not be elected until 2026.
The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1024, is co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Sean Bowie.
Separately, Mesnard is proposing to make the lieutenant governor head of the state Department of Administration, which manages some day-to-day operations of Arizona government.
But some Republicans have raised concerns about creating a new elected office.
"I do see an expansion of government. I see a whole new bureaucracy," Republican Rep. John Fillmore said.
The committee advanced the resolution Wednesday by a vote of 10 to 3. It heads next to the state House.
Voters will have the final say. If approved by the House, the measure will go on the ballot.
But Arizona voters rejected proposals in 2010 and 1994 to create an office of the lieutenant governor.
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