MATTINOW, Damoign -- The 2020 election is still years away, but the political parties and potential candidates are already preparing for the forthcoming Damoign governor's race. And after a ruling by the Damoign Supreme Court on Friday, the race for governor took an unexpected turn.
The court struck down a proposed constitutional amendment to the Damoign State Constitution that passed in the 2016 election.
The proposed amendment, officially "Amendment 14," would have changed Damoign's rules surrounding elections for governor and would have allowed a governor to serve two consecutive four-year terms instead of just one single term.
The current law limits a governor to one four-year term. A governor can serve more than one term but non-consecutively. The current law was enacted by voters back in the 1980s, after decades of corruption in the governor's office. The one-term limit was pushed as a way to curb corruption among the state's top executives.
Amendment 14 sought to extend the term limits. The argument from Amendment 14's supporters - which included former governors Rod Penora (N) and Sid Hoffa (C) - was that a mere four years is not enough time for a governor to enact real reform or a meaningful agenda.
"Four years is really very little time to get big changes done," said Penora back in 2016. "If we want real reform, if we want to make the broad, sweeping changes that we desperately need in Mattinow, then it would behoove us as citizens of our state, to give the governor more time to enact his or her agenda, and to allow the governor to shape a better agenda and allow time for that agenda to make its way through the legislature."
The Damoign legislature approved Amendment 14 in spring 2016, and in the fall 2016 election, voters affirmed that decision, with almost 56% voting in favor of Amendment 14.
But despite the legislative approval and affirmative vote from voters, by a vote of 7-2, the Damoign Supreme Court invalidated the amendment, saying the legislature must clarify the amendment adoption process before the law can take effect.
"It is not enough for the voters to affirm with a simple majority. It must be a 'broad majority' to precipitate a constitutional amendment," Charles Johnson, associate justice, wrote for the majority in the six-page opinion. "The question is, what amount constitutes a 'broad majority?' The law in its present form is vague and the legislature must clarify before Amendment 14 can be certified."
The law is unclear as to exactly what percentage of the vote a constitutional amendment must attain from voters, if the matter is put to the voters. Most amendments to Damoign's constitution have been done solely in the state legislature with no electoral input from voters.
The current law states amendments, "if they be put to the voters of Damoign, must receive a broad majority of votes in the affirmative thereof."
Some have suggested a 'broad majority' means a simple majority. Other's have said two-thirds of the vote (66%) or merely 60 percent. Opinions vary on the issue.
The matter is now remanded to the Damoign House Elections Committee and the Damoign Senate Governing Rules Committee for clarification.
In past elections and referendums, 60% has been the magic number, and a number of state senators and representatives suggested a 60% threshold would receive bipartisan support in the legislature, while at the same time invalidating Amendment 14.
"There's no question that 60% has been the ideal standard for the last 100 years, and I think Conservatives in the legislature will push that mark as the new codified standard," said state Senator Charles Andrews (C-Arnelleson).
The court's ruling puts the race for governor in limbo. Incumbent Gov. Jenna Duvan, a Nationalist, is hoping to run for a second consecutive term in 2020. She will now have to wait on the state legislature to make a decision.
The ruling throws a kink in Duvan's plans, and all the other candidates, because they don't know if Duvan will be able to run again for re-election or if she will have to step down and let someone new take her place.
For the sake of the candidates, the court asked the state legislature to make the matter of "urgent consideration."
"Certainly, it would be in the best interest of both political parties, both caucuses in the legislature, and all the prospective candidates to resolve this matter with the utmost expediency," Judge Charles Johnson wrote in his majority opinion.
Griffin Jenkins (N), the speaker of the Damoign House of Representatives, and Gerry Sianoupolous (N), the state Senate Majority Leader, said they will make sure the issue gets attention immediately.
"For the governor's sake, for the other candidates that are considering entering the race, it would be helpful if we could fix this technical issue sooner rather than later," said Speaker Jenkins.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Jenna Duvan said the governor is planning on running for re-election.
"Governor Duvan is working every day to benefit and help Damoignites, and she plans to continue her work in 2020 by running for re-election unless she is statutorily not permitted, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there," said spokeswoman Maryann Cady.
The top NAT candidate considering entering the race, should Amendment 14 be nullified and Duvan be barred from running for re-election, is former Gov. Rod Penora (N), who now serves as Attorney General, a position he held prior to his governorship from 2013-2017.
Other prospective NAT candidates include Secretary of State Rob Mercheck, Lt. Gov. Jeff Zeme, former Lt. Gov. David Armasson, Mattinow businessman John Brumley, and Assemblymen Bill Blair and Mark Ryutt.
On the Conservative, twice-unsuccessful gubernatorial nominee Mercer Diego has ruled out a third run.
Former Gov. Sid Hoffa is considered the leading Conservative candidate. Hoffa served as governor from 2009-2013.
Other CNS candidates include Assemblyman John DeGallio and Assemblywoman Pat Leemore.
Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol, an Independent, is also said to be considering running for governor, though the mayor has maintained his focus is on local issues, not state politics.
The court struck down a proposed constitutional amendment to the Damoign State Constitution that passed in the 2016 election.
The proposed amendment, officially "Amendment 14," would have changed Damoign's rules surrounding elections for governor and would have allowed a governor to serve two consecutive four-year terms instead of just one single term.
The current law limits a governor to one four-year term. A governor can serve more than one term but non-consecutively. The current law was enacted by voters back in the 1980s, after decades of corruption in the governor's office. The one-term limit was pushed as a way to curb corruption among the state's top executives.
Amendment 14 sought to extend the term limits. The argument from Amendment 14's supporters - which included former governors Rod Penora (N) and Sid Hoffa (C) - was that a mere four years is not enough time for a governor to enact real reform or a meaningful agenda.
"Four years is really very little time to get big changes done," said Penora back in 2016. "If we want real reform, if we want to make the broad, sweeping changes that we desperately need in Mattinow, then it would behoove us as citizens of our state, to give the governor more time to enact his or her agenda, and to allow the governor to shape a better agenda and allow time for that agenda to make its way through the legislature."
The Damoign legislature approved Amendment 14 in spring 2016, and in the fall 2016 election, voters affirmed that decision, with almost 56% voting in favor of Amendment 14.
But despite the legislative approval and affirmative vote from voters, by a vote of 7-2, the Damoign Supreme Court invalidated the amendment, saying the legislature must clarify the amendment adoption process before the law can take effect.
"It is not enough for the voters to affirm with a simple majority. It must be a 'broad majority' to precipitate a constitutional amendment," Charles Johnson, associate justice, wrote for the majority in the six-page opinion. "The question is, what amount constitutes a 'broad majority?' The law in its present form is vague and the legislature must clarify before Amendment 14 can be certified."
The law is unclear as to exactly what percentage of the vote a constitutional amendment must attain from voters, if the matter is put to the voters. Most amendments to Damoign's constitution have been done solely in the state legislature with no electoral input from voters.
The current law states amendments, "if they be put to the voters of Damoign, must receive a broad majority of votes in the affirmative thereof."
Some have suggested a 'broad majority' means a simple majority. Other's have said two-thirds of the vote (66%) or merely 60 percent. Opinions vary on the issue.
The matter is now remanded to the Damoign House Elections Committee and the Damoign Senate Governing Rules Committee for clarification.
In past elections and referendums, 60% has been the magic number, and a number of state senators and representatives suggested a 60% threshold would receive bipartisan support in the legislature, while at the same time invalidating Amendment 14.
"There's no question that 60% has been the ideal standard for the last 100 years, and I think Conservatives in the legislature will push that mark as the new codified standard," said state Senator Charles Andrews (C-Arnelleson).
The court's ruling puts the race for governor in limbo. Incumbent Gov. Jenna Duvan, a Nationalist, is hoping to run for a second consecutive term in 2020. She will now have to wait on the state legislature to make a decision.
The ruling throws a kink in Duvan's plans, and all the other candidates, because they don't know if Duvan will be able to run again for re-election or if she will have to step down and let someone new take her place.
For the sake of the candidates, the court asked the state legislature to make the matter of "urgent consideration."
"Certainly, it would be in the best interest of both political parties, both caucuses in the legislature, and all the prospective candidates to resolve this matter with the utmost expediency," Judge Charles Johnson wrote in his majority opinion.
Griffin Jenkins (N), the speaker of the Damoign House of Representatives, and Gerry Sianoupolous (N), the state Senate Majority Leader, said they will make sure the issue gets attention immediately.
"For the governor's sake, for the other candidates that are considering entering the race, it would be helpful if we could fix this technical issue sooner rather than later," said Speaker Jenkins.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Jenna Duvan said the governor is planning on running for re-election.
"Governor Duvan is working every day to benefit and help Damoignites, and she plans to continue her work in 2020 by running for re-election unless she is statutorily not permitted, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there," said spokeswoman Maryann Cady.
The top NAT candidate considering entering the race, should Amendment 14 be nullified and Duvan be barred from running for re-election, is former Gov. Rod Penora (N), who now serves as Attorney General, a position he held prior to his governorship from 2013-2017.
Other prospective NAT candidates include Secretary of State Rob Mercheck, Lt. Gov. Jeff Zeme, former Lt. Gov. David Armasson, Mattinow businessman John Brumley, and Assemblymen Bill Blair and Mark Ryutt.
On the Conservative, twice-unsuccessful gubernatorial nominee Mercer Diego has ruled out a third run.
Former Gov. Sid Hoffa is considered the leading Conservative candidate. Hoffa served as governor from 2009-2013.
Other CNS candidates include Assemblyman John DeGallio and Assemblywoman Pat Leemore.
Grassadellia City Mayor Kellan Kastol, an Independent, is also said to be considering running for governor, though the mayor has maintained his focus is on local issues, not state politics.
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