Kernan to name lieutenant governor

Gov. Joe Kernan plans to announce his choice for lieutenant governor at 2 p.m. today at the Indiana Statehouse.\nKernan's selection might be the clearest indication yet of whether he intends to toss his hat into the ring for the 2004 governor's race.\nBefore he took over for the late Gov. Frank O'Bannon in September, Kernan had declared he would not seek the governor's office. However, Kernan's wife, Maggie, recently said she advised her husband to reconsider that decision.\nKernan later confirmed that he and his wife are pondering a run.\nIf he does, today's choice for lieutenant governor could also be a choice for running mate.\n"Having taken over the position (of governor), it wouldn't be entirely surprising if he had changed his mind," said Margaret Ferguson, a professor of political science at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis. "It sounds like he's pretty serious about running."\nAndrew Stoner, the governor's deputy press secretary, said Kernan looked for someone with whom he could work well and who could lead the state if anything were to happen to him. \nA third criterion might be whether the lieutenant governor could balance a ticket come election season.\n"He needs to think about someone who can work well with the General Assembly and who can work with the Democrats as well as the Republicans," Ferguson said. "Then again, if he's thinking about running for governor, then he needs to think about the lieutenant governor as his running mate."\nKernan's nominee must be ratified by a majority vote in both chambers of the General Assembly. \nKernan has asked the legislature to convene a special session at the Statehouse Oct. 20 to make a vote. \nLeaders of both houses have indicated they will be supportive of whoever Kernan nominates, said Stoner.\nThe lieutenant governor's office has been vacant since Kernan was sworn in as governor. \nThe names of possible nominees have swirled around in the media. The Associated Press has reported that list might include Bloomington mayor John Fernandez, Indiana State Police Superintendent Melvin Carroway, state budget director Marilyn Schultz and state democratic chairman Joe Hogsett.\nFernandez was not available for comment Wednesday.\nStoner declined to speculate on the decision. \n"It's been a very closely guarded discussion, and that's the way (Kernan) prefers it," Stoner said.\nSince he assumed the governor's office, Kernan has been busy assembling his staff. He selected Mary Downes as his new chief of staff and Richard Rowley as the new legislative director. Others, like the budget director, Kernan retained.\n"People are very eager to see that he is successful," Stoner said. "There are changes in putting some of his own people in positions, and everyone understands that."\nKernan honors O'Bannon every chance he gets, Stoner said. The governor launched a new marketing campaign for the state Wednesday, and he was quick to note that O'Bannon spent the whole summer working on its promotion.\nStoner said Kernan's leadership style has been refreshing. The governor arrives at the office before many of the staff members and pauses to greet office workers throughout the day.\n"He's got a lot of energy, and he engages the staff quite a bit," Stoner said.\n-- Contact staff writer Adam VanOsdol at avanosdo@indiana.edu.