KJZZ

Arizona Capitol building.

Arizona is one of five states that does not have a lieutenant governor. Currently if the governor leaves office, the secretary of state takes over.

But a bill in the state legislature would change that and have the governor and new lieutenant governor run together as a ticket. The No. 2 position would also take over the state Department of Administration.

State Representative JD Mesnard of Chandler is the sponsor of House Bill 2252. The measure cleared its first legislative hurdle Thursday. He’s also the sponsor of a proposed ballot measure, which would ask voters to approve the change. It’s scheduled to get its first hearing on Monday.