Around New England

Bill Galvin Acting Governor of Massachusetts This Weekend, Because Governor and Lieutenant Governor Are …

February 9, 2024

William Galvin, the Massachusetts Secretary of State, is serving as acting governor of the commonwealth from Friday morning, February 9 through Sunday, February 11, a spokesman for Galvin said.

“The Governor is on a personal trip until Sunday. The LG is attending to a family matter,” said Karissa Hand, a spokesman for Governor Maura Healey, around 10:20 a.m. Friday, according to State House News Service.

In November 2023 Governor Healey’s administration said it is no longer making public the governor’s out-of-state trips, because of undisclosed security concerns.

“Her travel plans are instead now included on monthly calendars available to the press and public through records requests after the month has ended,” State House News Service reported on Friday.

Why is Galvin in charge?

Article LV (meaning Article 55) of the Massachusetts Constitution provides:

Whenever the offices of governor and lieutenant-governor shall both be vacant, by reason of death, absence from the commonwealth, or otherwise, then one of the following officers, in the order of succession herein named, namely, the secretary, attorney-general, treasurer and receiver-general, and auditor, shall, during such vacancy, have full power and authority to do and execute all and every such acts, matters, and things as the governor or the lieutenant-governor might or could lawfully do or execute, if they, or either of them, were personally.

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