virginia power (or not?)

[acroyear]

Can anyone in the awareness of things tell me

1. why VA still has a separate Lt. Govenor race from the Governor one
2. if the Lt. Gov has any power at all other than "if the Governor should be unable to perform his duties..." (like the Vice Pres has Senate tie-breaking powers in the Federal Gov)
   
3. (in speculation) why VA would vote so overwhelmingly for Kaine (D) and still vote for Bolling (R) for Lt.
   
   I mean, I respect that people aren't just "voting the party line", but I can't quite figure out why...

And yesterday continued its support for a statement I made yesterday morning: I've never seen a bond referendum fail in Loudoun since I moved here.

Comments

[madamcupcake.livejournal.com]

Not a resident of Virginia and I could be wrong in this, but I believe the Lt. Governor has his own set of duties of which include presiding over the state senate (or something along those lines) which could account for the separate elections.

[mshelby.livejournal.com]

#3 also happened in '93. that year, george allen (R) won governor easily, but the guy running for lt. gov. was seen as too conservative (even by republicans) and he lost to a democrat.

[tchwrtr.livejournal.com]

I can't answer your questions, but I like the idea of being able to split the ticket like that. It would mean that if you wanted to get anything done, you would have to be able to get along with more than "your" running mate.

Or it could cripple the gov't for a couple of years. I haven't decided which would be worse.