As reported previously in the Deseret Morning News, getting senators and others into the temporary House chambers to hear Huntsman was one of the main reasons the large, new dais was ripped out last month and the old dais — which was sitting in the Capitol House chambers — was moved in.

When the House and Senate meet in joint conference to hear the governor, the 29 senators, five Utah Supreme Court justices and other dignitaries will sit on folding chairs in the aisle between the front row of the 75 representatives' desks and the dais, which holds the speaker and House clerical staff.

The new dais was too big, the aisle too narrow, and so the senators and justices would have had to sit on the chamber's sides and in the rear. Unacceptable, legislative leaders decided — thus the remodeling.

But no one told Huntsman that the $20,000 remodeling was taking place, said Chaffetz. Huntsman decided to go south for other reasons.

"We're excited to get out to the people of Utah, away from Salt Lake City" for the speech, Chaffetz said. "You'll see Gov. Huntsman out among the people all the time, and it's good to get the Legislature out, too."

Huntsman may give his three other annual State of the State addresses during his four-year term outside of Salt Lake City as well, Chaffetz added.

"We've talked about St. George and other places," he said.

Some speculated Huntsman didn't want to address lawmakers in the new, cramped House chambers because onlookers (guests of the governor who normally interrupt the State of the State with applause and cheering) would have to sit behind glass windows in two floor-level galleries. Accordingly, Huntsman might not get the reception he desires, with TV viewers wondering why no one is cheering the new governor's talk.

But Chaffetz said audience reaction didn't play a role in shunning Capitol Hill, since Fillmore's Territorial Statehouse is not very large, either.

"We can only get about 130 people in there, including the legislators. Audience reaction wasn't a consideration," he said. "Jon has family ties in the area, he wants to get himself and the Legislature out more."

True, some Wasatch Front residents who may have driven up to the Capitol to watch the State of the State address won't be able to attend in Fillmore. But, said Chaffetz, the speech will be carried live by local radio and TV stations "and anyone who wants to see it, can."

"It's very time-consuming for us to make a trip like this," said Curtis. "But I'll be there."

---

E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com