
DATE: Monday, September 15, 1997            TAG: 9709150077

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL  

TYPE: Decision 97

SOURCE: BY HOLLY A. HEYSER, STAFF WRITER LENGTH: 85 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION:

*****************************************************************

L.F. Payne, a candidate for lieutenant governor, does not

practice law; he is an engineer. A summary of Payne's credentials

Monday had an error.

Correction published Tuesday, September 16, 1997.

*****************************************************************

A JOB OF INFLUENCE - MAYBE WITHOUT A CRISIS TO PROPEL THEM, LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS MUST RELY ON THEMSELVES.

In theory, the lieutenant governor could have a huge impact on public policy in Virginia.

The governor could die or resign, and the lieutenant governor would be installed as the head of the commonwealth. Or the Senate could reach a tie vote on some matter of vital importance, and the lieutenant governor would be called upon to break the tie.

Those are his biggest opportunities under state law, but in reality, the second-in-command rarely gets to make such a splash.

No Virginia governor has ever left office by death or resignation. And the Senate allows few vital matters to go to a vote without working out issues that could lead to a tie, said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia.

In the absence of those two scenarios, the lieutenant governor's impact depends entirely on who wins the office.

``It has persuasive powers,'' said retired Sen. Hunter B. Andrews of Hampton, ``but it depends on the individual. They have impact by communicating their views and trying to persuade (lawmakers).''

For example, he said, J. Sargeant Reynolds influenced policy on social services as lieutenant governor in the early 1970s.

Sabato said it's been about that long since a lieutenant governor exercised his constitutional authority to cast a really important tie-breaking vote - the one establishing the current Cabinet system.

Richard J. Davis of Portsmouth, who served as lieutenant governor from 1981 through 1985, said the most important tie he ever got to break was on a bill that would limit interest rates.

He voted against it, but the Senate came back and overruled him the next day.

Then what's so important about the job? ``It's a platform from which to run for governor,'' Sabato said.

Even then, holding that office doesn't impart clear advantage. Former attorneys general seem to win the race for governor as often as former lieutenant governors.

But none of this should suggest that your vote for lieutenant governor is meaningless, particularly not if you view elections as a game of chess in which successful players think several moves ahead.

The winner of this race can use the position as a springboard to an office in which he can have much greater impact on public policy.

Sabato makes two more points: With the Senate evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, tie votes are more likely during the next lieutenant governor's term.

And just because no seated governor has died or left office before doesn't mean Virginia is immune to such things.

``It could happen,'' Sabato said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

L.F. Payne

John H. Hager

Graphic

JOB Title: Lieutenant governor

Term: Four years

Term limit: None

Qualifications: United States citizen at least 30 years old

Responsibilities:

Presides over Senate - recognizing speakers, calling for votes and

ruling on procedural matters, but not voting except to break ties.