Lieutenant Governor

By Joel Walsh

Missouri voters will choose among four candidates for lieutenant governor, the state's second-highest office.

The candidates are Republican incumbent Peter Kinder, Democrat Sam Page, Libertarian Teddy Fleck and Constitution Party member James Rensing.

The lieutenant governor serves as the ex officio president of the Missouri Senate. He or she casts a vote only in case of a tie vote by the elected senators. Senate rules severely restrict the presiding powers of the lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor is the official state advocate for the elderly, as well as a member of the Missouri Rx Plan Commission. Lieutenant governors serve four-year terms. The salary is $83,965.

The lieutenant governor assumes the powers of the governor if the governor is unable to discharge his duties. If the disability is temporary (such as illness or absence from the state), the lieutenant governor serves as acting governor during the period of disability. If the disability is permanent (such as death or removal from office), the lieutenant governor becomes governor.