'An agent of change': Huntsman vows to move Utah forward

Lawmakers, no doubt, will be talking plenty about Huntsman's proposals for change when the 2005 Legislature convenes on Jan. 17. The governor is expected to detail his plans for the state before the session begins.

House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, warned that "the legislative process is, by nature, slow and resistant to change. It is hard to pass a new law, and it should be. But we all look forward to working with him and I've personally been impressed."

Curtis has been in the House for a decade, a leader much of that time, and he said Utah state government has been run just fine, especially during the economic downturns of the early 2000s.

Curtis said he, too, is not afraid of change. He suggested that the Huntsman administration can build on the "positive things that have happened here in the past," not necessarily look for change just for change's sake.

Another lawmaker, Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, smiled when asked if real changes would be made.

"It's going to be interesting," said Hillyard, co-chairman of the Legislature's powerful Executive Appropriations Committee.

Democrats in the audience were pleased with what they heard.

Even Huntsman's Democratic opponent, Scott Matheson Jr., said he was impressed. Huntsman recognized him at the beginning of the speech, calling Matheson "my friend."

Matheson said the speech "set a great tone for the administration to come . . . recognizing that if we're going to move forward we have to embrace change and take some risks."

State Democratic Party Chairman Donald Dunn said he was optimistic.

"I think the governor has the right idea of reaching across divides," he said. "I think he's got the right mind-set."

Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, came to the Utah House in 1968, and he's been to most inaugurals since. Dmitrich said he couldn't recall any of those past inaugural speeches.

"But I was really impressed with this one," Dmitrich said, "as I am with Huntsman. I think he'll be a moderate governor. And he's learning and willing to learn. He actually asks (Democrats) what we think."

Huntsman said he wrote his own speech, drawing on his experience drafting talks for the man he calls his mentor, U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Zoellick. Zoellick, a member of President Bush's Cabinet, sat next to the Huntsmans on stage.

The governor said he worked on the speech until the last minute. The line that drew the biggest applause referred to the University of Utah's Fiesta Bowl victory on New Year's Day that capped an undefeated season.