The current Illinois scandal involving Gov.
Rod Blagojevich's (D) alleged attempt
to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat demonstrates
we need a constitutional amendment requiring special elections to
choose replacement Senators. In the future, there will always be
a
question about the possibility of some type of secret deal
involved in
a governor's selection of a new Senator. How can voters be
sure that
a political or monetary favor was not involved in the selection?

The timing of the election should be sufficient to allow preparation
for conducting the election while insuring selection of a
replacement
as soon as possible..

The only possible exception might be in a general election year if
there were four months before the scheduled primary or general
election. Conduct of a special election might hamper
preparation for
these elections. In this case the legislature, rather than the
governor, might be allowed to select an interim Senator from among
those wishing the office who would serve until the next primary or general
election.

Governors like Blagojevich will probably protest limiting their ability
to function as power brokers by using Senate appointments to reward
political allies or make some money for themselves. Over the last 50
years governors have been the officials most likely to be prosecuted
for corruption. Former Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew had to resign as
vice president because of corrupt behavior while serving as governor.
His successor as Maryland governor, Marvin Mandel, went to jail for
corruption. Allegations of corrupt behavior as governor got President
Bill Clinton in trouble in the Whitewater scandal.