18 December 2015

Bullock-McLean stories will continue until a new LtGov is appointed

If recent posts at Montana Cowgirl and Intelligent Discontent are any indication, Democrats in general, and Gov. Steve Bullock’s campaign in particular, are becoming nervous, even a bit testy, over continuing news coverage of the events leading to Angela McLean’s resignation as lieutenant governor. Some of the criticism leveled at the Lee newspapers has been especially trenchant.

There’s undoubtedly fear that continuing coverage will damage Bullock’s prospects for re-election, but attacking the news media for doing their jobs simply calls more attention to the fundamental question that still begs for a satisfying answer: how did two people so intelligent and accomplished get themselves into such a preventable mess?

Angela McLean somehow misunderstood the office of lieutenant governor. And Steve Bullock somehow failed to make sure she understood the office as he did before appointing her. Asking how the devil that happened is responsible reporting, not yellow journalism.

We may not know the answer for years. In the meantime, the question — which is legitimate and important — will continue until Bullock appoints a new lieutenant governor. At that point, news reports will focus on the new lieutenant governor, and on filings for the 2016 election, which begin on 14 January.

In my opinion, Bullock is taking the search for his third lieutenant governor very seriously. He’s determined to choose someone who can:

But he’s not looking for someone to run a state bureaucracy as a rump department head.

Lieutenant governor is a political office, not a civil service position. It exists to ensure political continuity in the event the office of governor becomes vacant. Cutting ribbons and standing in for the governor is part of the job. So is political troubleshooting. But taking on heavy duty administrative duties is not.

Montana’s constitution does not provide for that because it’s a bad idea. Montana’s permanent government, its bureaus and departments, are staffed and administered by a professional civil service. Chief administrators are hired for their professional competence, and can be dismissed for incompetence. No lieutenant governor has any place in the permanent government. That’s not a complicated idea. It’s high school civics.

If there’s a silver lining in this affair, it’s the opportunity to re-examine the office of lieutenant governor, and how that person is selected. I commend Montana’s news media for helping start that discussion.