Statement of Senator Eric T. Schneiderman On Filling The Lt. Governor Vacancy

“Article IV, Section 6 clearly provides a mechanism to fill the offices of Governor and Lt. Governor when both offices are vacant at the same time. It is equally clear that it does not provide such a mechanism when the office of Lt. Governor alone is vacant.
 
“The only provision of law in New York that provides a way to fill the current vacancy in the office of Lt. Governor is Section 43 of the Public Officers Law. The Governor should exercise his power under this statute to appoint someone as soon as possible. If the Republicans want to mount a challenge and keep us in gridlock, I suppose that’s up to them.”