A traveling state of the state

There is a certain charm to the idea of Jon Huntsman Jr., giving his first state of the state address from the old Territorial Statehouse building in Fillmore. Given the way the Capitol in Salt Lake City is torn up in the midst of a remodeling project, and given the history of the tiny town in central Utah, this could be an interesting way to draw attention to a speech that often fails to grab the attention of state residents.

But don't make a habit of it.

The governor-elect's chief of staff said Huntsman may decide to give the annual speech in various places outside the capital city during the rest of his four-year term, as well. That would be fine if it involved only the governor and his staff, but the idea of asking 104 part-time lawmakers to travel long distances to hear a state-of-the-state seems a bit presumptuous. The executive branch may be the only one controlled by a single person, but that person is not meant to be more important than the combined members of the other two branches. An annual game of follow-the-leader at the very moment when lawmakers are beginning their brief and important yearly session serves no purpose.

After all, there were good reasons why pioneer lawmakers decided to abandon their plans for a large capitol building in Fillmore, after building only one wing. The city was considered too remote and too difficult to reach. Brigham Young and others had a miserable time making their way down there in 1851. The original idea of paying tribute to president Millard Fillmore never did pay many dividends back East, either.

Salt Lake City is the state's population center, as well as its center of business and government. Fillmore has a population of a little less than 2,500, in a county of a little more than 12,000. It is 148 miles to the south. Huntsman talks about getting out to the people of Utah who live beyond the Wasatch Front. But the Legislature consists of folks elected to represent people from all parts of the state, and the speech is broadcast to everyone who can't attend in person, which would be the overwhelming majority of Utahns regardless of where it is given.

Fillmore is a proud community with a wonderful history. The Territorial Statehouse is an historical jewel that has received too little attention through the years. Huntsman's first state-of-the-state will showcase this building and add a nice touch of historical perspective to a new administration. But next year the governor should give the speech in Salt Lake City, even if accommodations are not ideal.