Many chase it with their eyes on a different prize.
“One of the things that happens to you as lieutenant governor is you suddenly want to change, shorten your title,’’ said former governor Madeleine Kunin, who was lieutenant governor from 1978 to 1982.
Two Democrats, two Republicans, and two Progressives will face off in Aug. 24 primary elections for the position:
■ In the Democratic primary, state Representative Christopher Bray of New Haven faces state Representative Steve Howard of Rutland.
■ In the Republican primary, Mark Snelling of Starksboro will challenge state Senator Phil Scott.
■ In the Progressive primary, Marjorie Power of Montpelier faces Boots Wardinski of Newbury. Wardinski has also declared for the general election as an independent and minor party candidate.
Also in the general election are independent Peter Garritano of Shelburne and Ralph Montefusco of Burlington who is listed as a minor party candidate.
“The job itself is limited in scope,’’ Kunin said of the lieutenant governor position. “I presided over the Senate and waited with bated suspense whether I would break a tie vote, and a couple of key times I did.’’
But only once in the last 50 years has a lieutenant governor jumped directly to governor. In 1991, Lieutenant Governor Howard Dean was elevated when Governor Richard Snelling died.
At one time, one led to the other. In the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, the GOP dominated Vermont politics, and would-be governors put in their time as lieutenant governors.
In states like Vermont, the lieutenant governor and governor are elected separately and can be from different parties.
“You certainly have had cases where the lieutenant governor and governor have not had close working relationships,’’ state archivist Gregory Sanford said. “It really can vary, particularly if the governor sees the lieutenant governor from an opposite party as a potential future rival in an election.’’
