Does the NJ (Repub) Gov appoint his successor until a special election is held?
No successor if he does not step down. This is a Democrat, so he will not. I mean, they had a Senator unable to communicate after having a stroke and he still managed to vote.
No, the legislature will quickly change the law so that he cannot, then change it back when necessary.
In all the discussion about Scott Brown, I've never heard anyone suggest that the reason he won was widespread disgust over how the Massachusetts Democrats kept changing the rules.
http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index.ssf/2010/02/visiting_editorial_revisit_sen.html
“”the current procedure gives a governor too much discretion over how to deal with these vacancies. He or she can call a special election, appoint a temporary senator, or leave the seat vacant until the next general election which could be almost a year.””
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt/2009-R-0018.htm
According to OLR Research Report dated 1/21/09, the Governor can appoint a replacement, and then -
“Law authorizes governor to call for a special election, in which case there is no schedule specified. Otherwise, vacancy is filled at first or second succeeding general election, depending on when it occurs.”
Sounds like the law grants very liberal powers to the Governor in cases like this. Passed in the era of inevitable Democrat Governors, no doubt.
Delicious.
Yes, unless and until the 'Rat controlled state legislature changes the procedure. (They did that in MA but it backfired on them.)
In the meantime, look for Lautenberg to hang onto his seat as long as he can physically get to it. The 'Rats know they need every vote they can get for their unpopular agenda, especially cap and trade and nationalized health care.