Is it necessary for public servants to have citizen financed mansions? Couldn’t their private security protect them at their own homes?
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This was the case for most states prior to the Civil War. Governors found their own housing, and sometimes were compensated if they had to move to the capital city.
However, as the country grew, government became more extensive. Some states began to set aside special housing for their chief executives to make it easier for government officials, dignitaries, lobbyists, journalists, and citizens to meet with the governor or their staff immediately upon taking office. This made orderly transition of power considerably simpler. Once this started, other states didn’t want to seem provincial or unimportant, so nearly every state founded one. Over time, they became larger and more multipurpose, and sometimes more grand to reflect the importance of the executive power.
In the modern era, the needs of security are added to to the needs of convenience and most states prefer to house its governor in a ready-to-run facility. Some states, however, no longer maintain an official residence.
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