Jason Chaffetz, Huntsman's spokesman, said it's too soon to say whether Oveson will be reappointed. "He's obviously a great talent, and we'll just have to assess how he may, or may not, fit. It's premature for us to comment directly on any one individual."

Governing Magazine's Public Official of the Year Awards for 2004

Mark Warner, Virginia governor

John Chichester, Virginia senate president

Shirley Franklin, Atlanta mayor

Richard Moore, North Carolina treasurer

Kevin Burke, chief judge of Hennepin County, Minnesota

Tricia Leddy, Rhode Island director of child and family health

Jim McConnell, Los Angeles Unified School District chief facilities executive

Val Oveson, Utah's chief information officer

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