Lieutenant Governor of Florida
| Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Term length | 4 years, renewable once |
| Formation | 1968 (office restored by constitutional revision) |
| Website | "Page on state's website" |
The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the Governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of Governor if it becomes vacant. The incumbent is Carlos López-Cantera who was appointed to the office by Gov. Rick Scott to succeed Jennifer Carroll, who resigned.[1]
Contents
History
The position of Lieutenant Governor has been used in Florida's government twice in the state's history. The first period spanned from 1865, after the American Civil War, through 1889.[2] During this time, the lieutenant governor was elected independently of the Governor. In addition to being first in succession to the governor, the lieutenant governor was the ex officio president of the Florida Senate, and cast a vote in the case of a tie.[2] William W. J. Kelly was the first person elected Lieutenant Governor after the position was created by the 1865 Constitution of Florida. The position was officially abolished by the post-Reconstruction Constitution of 1885, with the last Lieutenant Governor, Milton H. Mabry, serving out his term until 1889.[3] After this point the office of President of the Senate was given to an elected member of the Senate, who also served as first in line of succession to the Governor.
The state constitution was again revised in 1968, and the office of Lieutenant Governor was recreated. In the modern period, the Lieutenant Governor is elected directly along with the Governor as his or her running mate. The Lieutenant Governor would serve as first in the line of succession, though the office of President of the Senate would remain with an elected Senator. The Lieutenant governor has a few prescribed duties, and otherwise assists the Governor with the duties of the executive branch.[3] The first Lieutenant Governor in the modern period was Ray C. Osborne, who took office in 1969.
On January 14, 2014 Carlos López-Cantera, (Florida's first Hispanic lieutenant governor) was appointed by Governor Rick Scott and was sworn in on February 3, 2014.
List of lieutenant governors
- Parties
No party Democratic Republican
| # | Lt. Governor | Image | Took Office | Left Office | Party | Governor(s) served under | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William W. J. Kelly |  |
20 December 1865 | 4 July 1868 | Republican | David S. Walker | |
| 2 | William Henry Gleason |  |
7 July 1868 | 14 December 1868 | Republican | Harrison Reed | |
| 3 | Edmund C. Weeks | 100px | 24 January 1870 | 27 December 1870 | Republican | ||
| 4 | Samuel T. Day |  |
3 January 1871 | 3 June 1872 | Republican[4] | ||
| 5 | Marcellus Stearns |  |
7 January 1873 | 18 March 1874 | Republican | Ossian B. Hart | Became governor upon the death of O. B. Hart |
| 6 | Noble A. Hull |  |
2 January 1877 | 3 March 1879 | Democratic | George Franklin Drew | Resigned to become a U.S. Representative |
| 7 | Livingston W. Bethel | |
4 January 1881 | 7 January 1885 | Democratic | William D. Bloxham | |
| 8 | Milton H. Mabry |  |
7 January 1885 | 8 January 1889 | Democratic | Edward A. Perry | Position abolished |
| 9 | Ray C. Osborne | 100px | 7 January 1969 | 5 January 1971 | Republican | Claude R. Kirk, Jr. | Position recreated |
| 10 | Tom Adams |  |
5 January 1971 | 7 January 1975 | Democratic | Reubin O'Donovan Askew | |
| 11 | Jim Williams | 100px | 7 January 1975 | 2 January 1979 | Democratic | ||
| 12 | Wayne Mixson |  |
2 January 1979 | 3 January 1987 | Democratic | Bob Graham | Became governor upon the resignation of Bob Graham |
| 13 | Bobby Brantley |  |
6 January 1987 | 8 January 1991 | Republican | Bob Martinez | |
| 14 | Buddy MacKay |  |
8 January 1991 | 12 December 1998 | Democratic | Lawton Chiles | Became governor upon the death of Lawton Chiles |
| 15 | Frank Brogan |  |
5 January 1999 | 3 March 2003 | Republican | Jeb Bush | Resigned to become President of Florida Atlantic University |
| 16 | Toni Jennings | 100px | 3 March 2003 | 2 January 2007 | Republican | Appointed to replace Brogan | |
| 17 | Jeff Kottkamp | 100px | 2 January 2007 | 4 January 2011 | Republican | Charlie Crist | |
| 18 | Jennifer Carroll | 100px | 4 January 2011 | 12 March 2013 | Republican | Rick Scott | Resigned |
| 19 | Carlos López-Cantera |  |
3 February 2014 | Incumbent | Republican | Appointed to replace Carroll |
Living former U.S. Lieutenant Governors of Florida
As of August 2014[update], there are eight former U.S. lieutenant governors of Florida who are currently living at this time, The oldest U.S. lieutenant governor of Florida being Wayne Mixson (served 1979–1987, born 1922). The most recent death of a former U.S. lieutenant governor of Florida was that of Ray C. Osborne (served 1969-1971, born 1933), who died on March 3, 2011.
| Lt. Governor | Lt. Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
|---|---|---|
| J.H. Williams | 1975–1979 | June 17, 1926 |
| Wayne Mixson | 1979-1987 | June 16, 1922 |
| Bobby Brantley | 1987–1991 | April 6, 1948 |
| Buddy MacKay | 1991–1998 | March 22, 1933 |
| Frank Brogan | 1999–2003 | September 6, 1953 |
| Toni Jennings | 2003–2007 | May 17, 1949 |
| Jeff Kottkamp | 2007–2011 | November 12, 1960 |
| Jennifer Carroll | 2011–2013 | August 27, 1959 |
See also
- Florida
- Florida Constitution
- Florida State Capitol
- List of Governors of Florida
- List of current United States Lieutenant Governors
References
- ↑ [1] "Report: Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned", Retrieved 2013-03-13
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/governors/lieutenant-governor.cfm
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Manuscript Collections of Florida Lieutenant Governors
- The Political Graveyard: Florida: Lieutenant Governors
