Incoming RI Governor Soliciting Applications For 2nd-In-Command

PROVIDENCE, RI — With Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo expected to be confirmed as the next U.S. Commerce Secretary in the next few weeks, there will soon be a vacancy in the state's second-highest office as current Lt. Gov. Dan McKee assumes her role.

In Rhode Island, there is no formal process in place to replace the vacancy of a sitting lieutenant governor. Under state law, the General Assembly has the ability to choose a new lieutenant governor-elect should the position become open before inauguration, but the same does not apply once the person has assumed the role.

Rep. Arthur Corvese filed legislation to clear up the procedure, which would apply the same process across the board.

"The fact is, neither the Rhode Island Constitution nor the General Laws say what is supposed to happen if the lieutenant governor leaves office," Corvese said at the time the legislation was announced. "There's a provision for all the other general officers. There's a law that says what to do if a lieutenant governor-elect can't serve. There's even a law that describes what to do if both the governor and the lieutenant governor are both vacant at once, but there is no law that applies just to a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's office. In every one of those cases, the law says the General Assembly in Grand Committee is to elect a successor, so my bill enacts the same process for a vacancy of the lieutenant governor."

Earlier this week, McKee's transition team announced that they were accepting letters of intent for those interested, with the incoming governor's intention to appoint a successor to the role. Online submissions will be accepted until 5 p.m. Tuesday. Interviews are expected to be conducted in early February.

"Selecting the next lieutenant governor provides an opportunity to reimagine Rhode Island’s governance model and demonstrate how the lieutenant governor’s office can be leveraged to support the state’s pandemic response and economic recovery," McKee said. "Our team looks forward to engaging in the selection process and identifying a partner to work closely with our administration starting on day one."

On Thursday, McKee said that although the coronavirus pandemic will be his "top priority" once he becomes governor, he expects the position to be filled by the end of February.

Related:

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• Who Is Dan McKee, Rhode Island's Next Governor?
  
• Rhode Island's Governor Transition Already Underway