Gov. Huntsman takes charge

If, as he said during his inaugural Monday, Gov. Jon Huntsman is prepared to take risks with his political capital and champion proposals that "will not be influenced by personal ambition or political need," the next four years could be among the most interesting and exciting in Utah's political history.

Whether he follows through on that desire remains to be seen, of course. It would be hard to find a new governor who would profess desires to do the opposite. But the new governor who wants to lead on principle despite political risks could do worse than take some lessons from an outgoing governor who was able to lead on principle because she had no political capital.

Olene Walker claimed the status of "lame duck" after losing at the state Republican convention last year, and yet the tax-reform package and the proposed budget she unveiled in the closing weeks of her term were good examples of strong leadership. They were examples of principle over politics. Neither, however, was done with the cooperation of the Legislature, and neither stands much chance of becoming law.

Governors don't usually consult lawmakers when writing their budget proposals, of course. But the absence of lawmakers on the tax-reform committee has been the source of some discussion. And yet it was the only way to draft a plan that truly was effective.

Huntsman, of course, will not have the luxury of ignoring the Legislature. To lead effectively, he must master the art of bringing state lawmakers along, which is considerably different from merely trying to prevail against them. And yet he needs to adopt the sense of boldness that characterized his predecessor.

He has some advantages going into that struggle. The biggest is that he appears to have many ideological allies in the House and Senate already, particularly when it comes to questions of school choice, a particularly controversial means of attacking the growing disparity between the state's school-age population and its ability to pay for education. His conservative leanings are likely to put him in good company with those who would like to limit the growth of state government and hold the line on taxes. And yet, he aptly described the tenor of many political leaders when he said, "We live in an era in which taking no risk is sometimes the biggest risk of all."

Taking risks in today's political world means withstanding the tactics of well-heeled special-interest groups that paint your proposals in the worst possible light, and that often buy political ads or find other ways to spread the fear of change. It means holding onto something with the steadfast belief that it eventually will pay dividends, even while your own popularity is eroding from a withering barrage.

Former Gov. Mike Leavitt was frequently accused of being reluctant to risk his political capital. And yet it can't be overlooked that he enjoyed great popularity during his nearly three terms in office and now holds a position of national prominence.

We admire Huntsman's resolve to "take an occasional risk." We are pleased by his reference to "political activism" and his claim to the "pure spirit of public service."

If he is serious about that, contentious battles may lie ahead, but Utah will emerge as a better place in which to live.