Huntsman set to name some Cabinet members

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is set to name a number of his 17 Cabinet members today. A few are already known, and he'll likely keep a few current state department directors on board, at least for the first few months of his new administration.

Technically, there are more than 650 "exempt" employees in state government, people who serve at the pleasure of the governor and other top state executives. Realistically, however, Huntsman himself will be involved in picking only 100 or so executives, leaving the other appointments to lower-level state managers.

Two legislators — Sen. Leonard Blackham, R-Moroni, and Rep. Mike Styler, R-Delta — already have resigned their legislative posts to join Huntsman in the executive branch.

It's believed Blackham, a turkey farmer and co-op manager, will take the place of outgoing Agriculture Commissioner Cary Peterson, who submitted his resignation last week. Styler, a teacher and farmer, may become executive director of the Department of Natural Resources.

Tuesday, Dave Harmer, executive director of the Department of Community and Economic Development, resigned.

One of Huntsman's main campaign themes last year was expanding Utah's economy, thus driving up tax revenues to help pay for — without raising tax rates — an estimated 140,000 new public school students expected during the next decade. The new DCED director will get that large task.

"I'm a little disappointed," Harmer said Tuesday. "There are some issues I'd like to see further along. Huntsman campaigned on a theme that he was basically taking the position that the state wasn't doing enough in economic development and that he would do something significantly more. It would be pretty hard for him to leave the same person in charge, if you will."

Harmer said he's proud of the accomplishments of his department, especially considering the budget cuts over the previous three years.

Harmer added: "But I'm encouraged by his commitment to putting a lot of emphasis on economic development. The state definitely needs that. I fully support the idea that to fund education and the other needs of the state, we need economic development to make that happen. Trying to cover all those needs out of the existing pot is not going to happen."

Transportation Department executive director John Njord said Tuesday he has not resigned and plans on serving "as long as Gov. Huntsman will let me." Historically, new governors have not immediately replaced directors of transportation, which is a highly technical job.