Huntsman must tackle economy, own resolutions

Webb: As Jon Huntsman Jr. puts together his team and organizes state government to suit his tastes and priorities, it will be highly interesting to see what he does with the leadership, organization and structure of agencies dealing with economic development.

Huntsman centered his campaign on economic development. It is clearly his top priority. Over and over he has pointed to a stronger economy as the solution to education funding and other state challenges.

So expectations are high. We're counting on this business whiz with great national and international relationships at the top levels of commerce and domestic and foreign governments to deliver. His experience and contacts in the fast-growing Asian economies are particularly promising. Huntsman's first-term success may be measured more on economic development than any other issue.

Already, he has signaled that it won't be business as usual in this arena. He created the entirely new position of economic development adviser within the governor's senior staff, a slot that hasn't existed in the past. He filled the position with Chris Roybal, who has been president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCU).

But what is creating a lot of talk and speculation is what a Huntsman administration may do, or propose to do, with the three main economic development organizations in the state: The State Division of Business and Economic Development (DBED); the EDCU; and the Salt Lake Chamber.

A certain amount of competition, turf protection and tension has always existed among the Chamber, EDCU and DBED. Is there a way to resolve the various roles and responsibilities to add punch and firepower to the state's economic development efforts? Or will Huntsman, even with his intense focus on economic development, decide that the current structure and organization are just fine?

How aggressive will Huntsman be in shaking things up? With Roybal gone from EDCU and serving on Huntsman's staff, will the new governor suggest the merging of the Chamber and EDCU? Will he suggest that portions of DBED be privatized into the Chamber or EDCU? With Roybal's influence, will EDCU emerge as the King Kong of economic development? Will the international office in DBED be given new emphasis and strength? Could the Travel Council be privatized as was the Sports Authority in past years? Among the current leaders and executives in state and private economic development, who will stay and who will go?