VOTER GUIDE

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

What is the Lieutenant Governor?

  • The Lieutenant Governor steps in to lead when the governor leaves the state, though just as a caretaker. Any major actions can be reversed upon the Governor’s return

  • The real power lies in the boards the Lt. Governor serves on, including: the State Lands Commission, California Ocean Protection Council, California Coastal Commission, California Commission for Economic Development, and on the Board of the UC Regents

  • The Lieutenant Governor serves four-year terms alongside the Governor

  • The salary and benefits of this full-time position total $194,000 per year

Why You Should Care

The person in this position is basically being prepared for a gubernatorial run, so it’s worth paying attention to how they conduct themselves and how seriously they take the position. 

Our Vision for the Office

The Lieutenant Governor should be well-versed in policy matters and administrative management.

Eleni Kounalakis

Why vote for her: Current Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis won an intraparty battle in 2018, with millions of dollars in help from her father, Angelo Tsakoplous, who is a Sacramento-area developer. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis has pushed to stop new offshore oil drilling, and to ban flavored tobacco products whose manufacturers target children. She also established a first-of-its-kind state transgender advisory council and recently became the first woman in California history to sign a bill into law.

Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.

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