Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Encyclopedia
The Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas presides over the Arkansas Senate
with a tie-breaking
vote, serves as governor
when the governor is out of state, and serves as governor if the governor is impeached, removed from office, dies or is otherwise unable to discharge the office's duties.
The position of Lieutenant Governor
is provided for by the state constitution
and was created in 1914, though Arkansas did not have anyone serving as Lieutenant Governor until 1927.
Amendment
6 to the Arkansas Constitution was voted on by the general electorate in 1914, with returns showing 45,567 in favor of the amendment and 45,206 opposed. The Speaker of the House declared the measure lost because it did not receive a majority of the highest total vote, which was 135,517. In 1925, it was discovered that the Initiative and Referendum of 1910 amended this majority requirement so that only a majority of those voting on a specific question was required. So, in 1926, the 1914 initiative was declared to be valid and Harvey Parnell
was elected Arkansas' first lieutenant governor.
In the 2006 election, Democrat Bill Halter
defeated Republican Senator Jim Holt for the office, on November 7, 2006. Halter was sworn into office on January 9, 2007. The office itself had been vacant since July 16, 2006, due to the death of the most recent incumbent, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
.
Rockefeller and his two predecessors Mike Huckabee
and Jim Guy Tucker
began their respective tenures in the midst of regular term periods, due to resignation of certain governors. Tucker succeeded Bill Clinton
as governor in December 1992, upon Clinton's resignation days before assuming his office as President of the United States
, creating the need for a special election to fill the lieutenant governor's office. When Tucker was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud charges in 1996, Huckabee succeeded him as governor, paving the way for the November 1996 special election of Rockefeller as lieutenant governor.
(1981–1991, born 1938). The most recent death of a former Lieutenant Governor was that of Nathan G. Gordon
(1947–1967), on September 8, 2008. The most recently-serving Lieutenant Governor to die was Winthrop P. Rockefeller
(1996–2006), in office on July 16, 2006.
Arkansas Senate
The Arkansas State Senate is the upper branch of the Arkansas General Assembly. The Senate consists of 35 members, each representing a district with about 76,000 people. Service in the state legislature is part-time, and many state senators have full-time jobs during the rest of the year. The...
with a tie-breaking
Casting vote
A casting vote is a vote given to the presiding officer of a council or legislative body to resolve a deadlock and which can be exercised only when such a deadlock exists...
vote, serves as governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
when the governor is out of state, and serves as governor if the governor is impeached, removed from office, dies or is otherwise unable to discharge the office's duties.
The position of Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
is provided for by the state constitution
State constitution (United States)
In the United States, each state has its own constitution.Usually, they are longer than the 7,500-word federal Constitution and are more detailed regarding the day-to-day relationships between government and the people. The shortest is the Constitution of Vermont, adopted in 1793 and currently...
and was created in 1914, though Arkansas did not have anyone serving as Lieutenant Governor until 1927.
Amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
6 to the Arkansas Constitution was voted on by the general electorate in 1914, with returns showing 45,567 in favor of the amendment and 45,206 opposed. The Speaker of the House declared the measure lost because it did not receive a majority of the highest total vote, which was 135,517. In 1925, it was discovered that the Initiative and Referendum of 1910 amended this majority requirement so that only a majority of those voting on a specific question was required. So, in 1926, the 1914 initiative was declared to be valid and Harvey Parnell
Harvey Parnell
Harvey Parnell was the 29th Governor of Arkansas from 1928 to 1933.Harvey Parnell was born in Orlando in Cleveland County, Arkansas. Parnell attended public schools and graduated from Warren High School in Warren, Arkansas...
was elected Arkansas' first lieutenant governor.
In the 2006 election, Democrat Bill Halter
Bill Halter
William A. "Bill" Halter was the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to succeed the late Republican Winthrop Paul Rockefeller in 2006, defeating Republican challenger Jim Holt by a margin of 57%–43%.Before his election as lieutenant governor,...
defeated Republican Senator Jim Holt for the office, on November 7, 2006. Halter was sworn into office on January 9, 2007. The office itself had been vacant since July 16, 2006, due to the death of the most recent incumbent, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller was a Republican politician who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1996 until his death.-Early life and parents:...
.
Rockefeller and his two predecessors Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
and Jim Guy Tucker
Jim Guy Tucker
James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative...
began their respective tenures in the midst of regular term periods, due to resignation of certain governors. Tucker succeeded Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
as governor in December 1992, upon Clinton's resignation days before assuming his office as President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, creating the need for a special election to fill the lieutenant governor's office. When Tucker was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud charges in 1996, Huckabee succeeded him as governor, paving the way for the November 1996 special election of Rockefeller as lieutenant governor.
List of Lieutenant Governors
- Harvey ParnellHarvey ParnellHarvey Parnell was the 29th Governor of Arkansas from 1928 to 1933.Harvey Parnell was born in Orlando in Cleveland County, Arkansas. Parnell attended public schools and graduated from Warren High School in Warren, Arkansas...
, 1927–1928 - William Lee CazortWilliam Lee CazortWilliam Lee Cazort was the second Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas.-External links:* at Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture...
, 1921–1931 - Lawrence Elery WilsonLawrence Elery WilsonLawrence Elery Wilson was the third Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as Governor Harvey Parnell's second lieutenant governor....
, 1931–1933 - William Lee Cazort, 1933–1937
- Robert L. BaileyRobert L. BaileyRobert L. Bailey was the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as Governor Carl Edward Bailey's lieutenant governor, as well as Governor Homer Martin Adkins' first lieutenant governor....
, 1937–1943 - James Lavesque Shaver, 1943–1947
- Nathan Green GordonNathan Green GordonNathan Green Gordon was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S...
(D), 1947-1967 - Maurice BrittMaurice BrittMaurice Lee "Footsie" Britt, Jr. , was an American professional football player, World War II hero received the Medal of Honor, businessman, and Republican politician from Arkansas...
(R), 1967-1971 - Bob C. RileyBob C. RileyBob Cowley Riley was an American educator and politician who served as Acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975. He had previously been a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1946 to 1950, the mayor of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1966 and 1967, and the eighth Lieutenant...
(D), 1971-1975 - Joe PurcellJoe PurcellJoseph Gregory Purcell -References:...
(D), 1975-1981 - Winston BryantWinston BryantWinston Bryant is a former Democratic Secretary of State , the tenth Lieutenant Governor and attorney general of the U.S. state of Arkansas.He was born in Malvern, the seat of Hot Spring County...
(D), 1981-1991 - Jim Guy TuckerJim Guy TuckerJames "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative...
(D), 1991-1992 - Mike HuckabeeMike HuckabeeMichael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won...
(R), 1993-1996 - Winthrop Paul RockefellerWinthrop Paul RockefellerWinthrop Paul Rockefeller was a Republican politician who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1996 until his death.-Early life and parents:...
(R), 1996-2006 - Bill HalterBill HalterWilliam A. "Bill" Halter was the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to succeed the late Republican Winthrop Paul Rockefeller in 2006, defeating Republican challenger Jim Holt by a margin of 57%–43%.Before his election as lieutenant governor,...
(D), 2007-2011 - Mark DarrMark DarrMark A. Darr is the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to succeed Democrat Bill Halter in 2010, defeating Democratic challenger State Senator and former Speaker of the House Shane Broadway by a margin of 51% - 49%. -Early life and career:Mark...
(R), 2011-present
Living former Lieutenant Governors
, four former Lieutenant Governors were alive. The oldest living Lieutenant Governor is Winston BryantWinston Bryant
Winston Bryant is a former Democratic Secretary of State , the tenth Lieutenant Governor and attorney general of the U.S. state of Arkansas.He was born in Malvern, the seat of Hot Spring County...
(1981–1991, born 1938). The most recent death of a former Lieutenant Governor was that of Nathan G. Gordon
Nathan Green Gordon
Nathan Green Gordon was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S...
(1947–1967), on September 8, 2008. The most recently-serving Lieutenant Governor to die was Winthrop P. Rockefeller
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller
Winthrop Paul Rockefeller was a Republican politician who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1996 until his death.-Early life and parents:...
(1996–2006), in office on July 16, 2006.
| Lt. Governor | Lt. Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Winston Bryant Winston Bryant Winston Bryant is a former Democratic Secretary of State , the tenth Lieutenant Governor and attorney general of the U.S. state of Arkansas.He was born in Malvern, the seat of Hot Spring County... |
1981–1991 | October 03, 1938 (age 73) |
| Jim G. Tucker Jim Guy Tucker James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative... |
1991–1992 | June 13, 1943 (age 68) |
| Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won... |
1993–1996 | August 24, 1955 (age 56) |
| Bill Halter Bill Halter William A. "Bill" Halter was the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to succeed the late Republican Winthrop Paul Rockefeller in 2006, defeating Republican challenger Jim Holt by a margin of 57%–43%.Before his election as lieutenant governor,... |
2007–2011 | November 30, 1960 (age 51) |