Huntsman ceremony is Monday noon

Gov. Jon Huntsman will start his first term with a familiar sound in a new place.

Because of renovations to the Utah State Capitol, Huntsman's inauguration will break tradition and take place in Abravanel Hall. Almost all inaugurations have been held in the Capitol, either on the steps of Utah Supreme Court or, because of large numbers of attendees in recent years, in the rotunda.

The inaugural ceremony is scheduled for Monday at noon. Doors will open at 10 a.m. for ticket holders, most of whom are invited guests, and guests will be seated by 11:40 a.m.

Mike Deaver, director of the inauguration, said plans are to make about 300 tickets available to the public Monday morning. The tickets will only be available at a kiosk within Abravanel on a first-come, first-served basis, not at the ticket office or any other outlet, and people wanting to attend should arrive by 9 a.m. to line up for tickets.

There also will be a room in the Salt Palace where people can watch the inauguration on television, and most Utah TV stations are expected to carry the event live.

As it did for former Gov. Mike Leavitt, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will provide some of the entertainment for Huntsman's inaugural ceremony. The Utah National Guard's 23rd Army Band also will play.

In line with previous inaugurations is the $50,000 price tag for the ceremony, Deaver said, although organizers are trying to reduce the cost to the state through private donations.

Along with Huntsman, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Treasurer Ed Alter and Auditor Auston Johnson will be sworn into office during Monday's ceremony.

The highest-ranking political guest will be Leavitt, who is the current head of the Environmental Protection Agency and President Bush's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, both of which are Cabinet-level positions. Also attending will be U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, another member of Bush's Cabinet.

Some international delegations are expected to attend, including a representative from Sri Lanka. Representatives from other Asian countries who originally planned to attend have cancelled, however, because of the devastation to their countries from the Sumatran tsunami.

Outgoing Utah Gov. Olene Walker and former Gov. Cal Rampton are expected to attend, although Norma Matheson, wife of former Gov. Scott Matheson, will not attend because of other commitments, Deaver said.