Capitol Comments

Toll Fellows Alumni Eye Higher Office

Two alumni of the Henry Toll Fellowship program have their eye on higher office.

The Toll Fellows program, a program of The Council of State Governments, is the premier leadership development program for state government officials.

Sean Parnell, a 1998 Toll Fellow, recently took over as governor of Alaska. Parnell, formerly lieutenant governor, ascended to the office with the resignation of Gov. Sarah Palin, which took effect on Sunday. Read more about Parnell at Time.com.

Minnesota state Sen. Tarryl Clark, a 2007 Toll Fellow, has entered the primary for her state’s Sixth Congressional District, according to MinnPost.com. Clark is a lawyer from St. Cloud and assistant minority leader in the state Senate.

One-Quarter of Decade’s Gubernatorial Successions to Happen in 2009

Twenty-five percent of the decade’s gubernatorial successions are to happen this year alone, according to the National Lieutenant Governors Association, an affiliate of The Council of State Governments.

“Of the gubernatorial successions to occur this decade, one-quarter are slated to happen in the first seven months of this year alone,” said Julia Hurst, NLGA executive director.

The pending gubernatorial successions of the lieutenant governors of Alaska and Utah—once they become official—means there will be five NLGA members who succeed to governor so far this year, Hurst said.

“The ever increasing impact of the office of lieutenant governor on the leadership of the nation in the states is renewing interest in the office of lieutenant governor,” said Hurst.

Here are some more facts about the office of lieutenant governor, according to NLGA:

Focus is on Highway Trust Fund

By Sean Slone, CSG Transportation Policy Analyst

Several state leaders learned last week reauthorization of the federal highway program may be delayed, and some Senate and administration officials are focused instead on shoring up the federal Highway Trust Fund.

The Council of State Governments hosted a legislative “fly-in” June 23-24 that gave participants an opportunity to meet with staff from the key committees that will debate the next federal authorization for transportation programs.