UNIFIED BALLOT WOULD DIMINISH VOTER CHOICE

Missouri's practice of separately electing its governor and lieutenant governor has led to some minor hitches over the years, but it is a system that for the most part works well. No serious consideration should be given to changing it.

Wendell Bailey, one of two Republicans running for lieutenant governor, has floated the idea of electing Missouri's top two executive positions as a unified ticket. The former one-term congressman and two-term state treasurer rarely lacks interesting suggestions, and in a campaign for an office that generally fails to capture much voter interest, Bailey managed to garner a little bit of attention with his proposal.

Missouri is one of 18 states that hold separate elections for governor and lieutenant governor. The rest of the states that have a lieutenant governor -- many don't -- pick their No. 2 executive as an add-on when electing governor, much like the vice president at the federal level.

Under Missouri's system, the situation often arises where the governor and lieutenant governor are from different political parties. In the last 24 years, the same party has simultaneously occupied the seats only during the last eight.

The last time the offices were divided was from 1989-93 when Democrat Mel Carnahan served under Republican John Ashcroft. According to longtime Capitol observers, the relationship was less than harmonious. Other incidents of a split executive branch have spawned numerous humorous anecdotes of governors afraid to leave the state for fear the opposition lieutenant governor will take over in their absence.

Separate selection gives voters real choice in deciding who will occupy each office. With a unified ticket, the choice for lieutenant governor becomes more of an afterthought than it already is. Vice presidential candidates occasionally win or lose their running mate some votes, but how often are they the deciding factor in presidential elections?

To preserve voter choice -- and to keep the executive branch lively -- Missouri should keep the races as separate ballot items.