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Heineman: Picking new lt. governor will take weeks

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman says he will appoint a new lieutenant governor even though he only has about four months left in office.But Heineman said Monday that he doesn't expect to announce a replacement for Lavon Heidemann for several weeks.

Heidemann, a former state senator and University of Nebraska regent, resigned last week after a judge approved a protection order against him at his sister's request.

Heineman says state law requires him to appoint a second-in-command even though he's leaving office in January.

Nebraska's protocol calls for the lieutenant governor to take over the governor's office if Heineman were to die or become permanently incapacitated.

Without a lieutenant governor, the next person in the succession line would be Speaker of the Legislature Greg Adams, of York.

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