The duties of N.J.'s new Lt. Gov. post are unclear
Monday, June 15th, 2009
By: Phil Gregory
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Next year, New Jersey will be joining the ranks of states with a lieutenant governor. Voters will decide in November on who will fill the newly created position.
But just what duties the Lt. Gov. will have is uncertain.
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Analysts say it's not clear just what a Lieutenant Governor will do other than to fill in when a Governor is out of state or unable to perform his duties.
Fairleigh Dickinson University political science professor Peter Wooley doubts whoever get the job will have a strong decision making position.
Wooley: Beyond the campaign it's unlikely that the lieutenant governor is going to play a strong role unless something dramatic becomes of the Governor.
A different view of what the job may entail comes from Joe Marbach, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall University.
Marbach: I suspect that this individual will be appointed to the cabinet. I think Secretary of State is a very likely type of position for the individual.
Governor Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie are expected to announce their choices for running mates by the end of the month.