St. Cloud Times, Jan. 5

It’s only for about nine months — just deal with it.

That’s (the St. CloudTimes Editorial Board’s) advice to Minnesota legislators, Gov. Mark Dayton and “acting” Lt. Gov. (and still state Sen.) Michelle Fischbach regarding the much publicized effort to replace Tina Smith as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor after she became a U.S. senator to replace Al Franken, who quit.

The good news? Fischbach herself seems to be taking that tack.

The details

Legally, the state Constitution requires the Senate president to become lieutenant governor if needed. Republican Fischbach has held that post since 2011. Politically, her advancement to No. 2 in command of the state is a problem for both parties.

Democrats run the governor’s shop and Republicans, by a narrow margin, control the Senate. Forcing Fischbach into the job creates the possibility Republicans could lose Senate control via a special election.

Realistically, though, Republicans losing Fischbach’s seat at the polls seems like a long shot. She’s rolled to re-election victories for 20 years in a district that has blinked bright red for just as long.

Plus, Fischbach has said if she is forced to leave her Senate post, she will resign the No. 2 job and run in the special election.

On the flip side, if Fischbach is forced to take the title and give up her Senate post, Democrats could lose the governor’s chair in the unlikely event Dayton becomes unable to serve out his term.

Faced with this conundrum, various leaders of both parties have at differing times threatened everything from special session to special election — and, of course, a massive court fight.

Just deal with it

Come Nov. 6, voters will pick a new governor and every legislative seat will be on the ballot. These elected officials need to avoid extreme actions until then.

Thankfully, Fischbach seems to be trying to set that tone. According to a St. Paul Pioneer Press report, she is calling herself “acting lieutenant governor,” is refusing to take the position’s paycheck and has not taken the oath of office.

Considering not just the politics mentioned above, but the reality that, as long as the governor is healthy, the lieutenant governor has no duties considered mission-critical to the operation of state government, Fischbach’s strategy deserves praise.

After all, it’s only for about nine months — just deal with it.