Lieutenant Governor of Florida

Lieutenant Governor of Florida

Incumbent
Carlos López-Cantera
since February 3, 2014
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]

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 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 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 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 3 March 2003 2 January 2007 Republican Appointed to replace Brogan
17 Jeff Kottkamp 2 January 2007 4 January 2011 Republican Charlie Crist
18 Jennifer Carroll 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, 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. The most recently serving lieutenant governor to die was Thomas Burton Adams Jr. (served 1971-1975, born 1917) on May 22, 2006.

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

References

  1. ↑ "Report: Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned", Retrieved 2013-03-13
  2. 1 2 "The Truth-O-Meter Says: Jennifer Carroll is the "first African-American Republican woman to be part of a statewide ticket in Florida."". politifact.com. St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  3. 1 2 http://www.floridamemory.com/Collections/governors/lieutenant-governor.cfm
  4. ↑ "The American Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1871". New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1872: 308. Retrieved 2008-05-25

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