TRENTON - A Democratic state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would force Republican Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie to select a Democrat to replace New Jersey's U.S. senators - both of them Democrats - if either was unable to complete his term.
Assembly Majority Whip John F. McKeon of Essex County said he began to think about procedures to fill a vacant Senate seat after the recent death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D., Mass.).
McKeon's bill, introduced and referred to the State Government Committee yesterday in the final weeks of the legislative session, would require that the governor fill a seat within 30 days after it became vacant and that the appointee come from the same political party as the departed officeholder.
The temporary appointment would continue until the next general election in most cases. If the vacancy occurred within 64 days of the June primary, the appointee would serve until the subsequent November election.
Under current law, the governor can call a special election to fill the vacancy or make a temporary appointment. McKeon said special elections tended to have poor voter turnout and were an unnecessary expense.
"This bill would save taxpayers an estimated $10 million in the cost of an unscheduled statewide election," he said.
"It also would honor the will of the electorate by requiring that the appointee be from the same political party as the U.S. senator elected by voters."
McKeon said his bill would make the process to fill a Senate vacancy similar to processes used to fill vacancies at the local, county and state level.
Maria Comella, spokeswoman for Christie, said the governor-elect had not had a chance to study the bill but would "look closely at any and all legislation that is in the best interests of New Jerseyans."
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20091201_Bill_would_force_a_Democratic_replacement_for_N_J__Senate.html
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