Blunt can keep office while overseas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- No apparent constitutional or legal impediments prevent Secretary of State Matt Blunt from staying in office while serving overseas in the Navy, although his status as the first statewide elected official to be called to active military duty raises unusual issues.

Blunt, a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve, is to report to active duty Tuesday as part of the federal activation of National Guard and reserve units following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. His orders call for him to serve for a year, but it is unknown if he will be gone that long.

Blunt took office in January, and his term expires in January 2005. His spokesman, Spence Jackson, said Blunt has given no thought to resigning as secretary of state and can foresee no circumstance in which that action might be required.

"We will cross that hypothetical bridge when we come to it, if it gets to that point," Jackson said.

The Missouri Constitution forbids state officials from simultaneously holding a paid federal job but exempts military reservists from that restriction. Scott Holste, a spokesman for the state attorney general's office, said there doesn't appear to be any legal provision that would force Blunt to vacate his seat.

Elected officials can be forced from office only if impeached by the House of Representatives and then found guilty of wrongdoing following a trial before the Missouri Supreme Court.

Both state and federal laws also require employers, in most circumstances, to rehire upon their return National Guard members or reservists called to active duty.

Deputy to be in charge

Executive deputy secretary of state Dan Ross will run the office during Blunt's absence. State law specifically allows the deputy to indefinitely exercise the full authority of top position -- including attesting to official actions of the governor -- provided the secretary of state empowers the deputy to do so.

"Matt has already issued a letter delegating his authority" to Ross, Jackson said.

While Blunt's call to active duty means an unelected official will be running the day-to-day operations of the secretary of state's office, that also would be the case if Blunt, a Republican, were to resign. In that the event, Democratic Gov. Bob Holden would appoint someone to serve the remainder of Blunt's term.

In frequent contact

While away, Blunt said he plans to stay in frequent contact with his office via e-mail and telephone.

"He will be part of the process," Jackson said. "Any major decision, he will make -- no doubt about it."

A similar arrangement was in place for two weeks this summer when Blunt's unit trained in the United Kingdom. Jackson said things went smoothly during Blunt's absence.

"He was fully aware of everything going on and had the final say on all issues," Jackson said.

Jackson was uncertain how much overseas communication will cost taxpayers. Blunt will continue to draw his full state paycheck of $94,995 a year.

Mike Kelley, executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party, said the party has no problems with the arrangement and stands behind Blunt.

"Right now we are not Democrats or Republicans at all," Kelley said. "We are all Missourians and Americans, and we support Matt."

Blunt, 30, is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Ann-apolis, Md. He left active duty and joined the reserves in 1998.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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