A bill aimed at avoiding a special election for the lieutenant governor's office following Mark Darr's resignation over ethics violations has been filed in the Senate.
Senate Republican Leader Eddie Joe Williams and Senate Democratic Leader Keith Ingram filed legislation Monday that would give the governor the choice to not call a special election within 10 months of the November general election.
Ingram said the cost of having a special election would be in the millions and added that it needed to be addressed in the fiscal session.
Darr, a Republican, resigned Feb. 1 after the state's ethics commission fined him $11,000 for misspending campaign funds.
House Speaker Davy Carter said he is unaware of anyone who is opposed to the bill.
