Huntsman's early days earn mixed reviews

As Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. prepares his first State of the State address for Tuesday, some politics watchers are assessing his state of the governorship after only two weeks on the job.

Thursday, several members of the citizen board that advises the state Department of Community and Economic Development (admittedly, the board was appointed by Huntsman's predecessors) had some harsh words over how Huntsman had fired 33 economic development and tourism appointees and wants to move those operations into the governor's office.

Huntsman has also been embarrassed by the resignation of Sylvia Haro, whom he tapped to head his reorganized department of community affairs and the arts. Haro quit a week after he announced her appointment and before she actually went on the state payroll.

Development board member and private real estate developer Dell Loy Hansen, noting he was not consulted on the firings or reorganization, said Huntsman is showing an "arrogance of power" and called his administration "a regime that feels they can do whatever they like."

Huntsman's reorganization of the department, including moving economic development and tourism into his own office, must receive legislative approval.

In speaking to print journalists before statements made at the board meeting, Huntsman said it should be a surprise to no one that he was going to shake up the state's economic development operation.

"I've been talking about it (in his election campaign) for a year and a half," said Huntsman, who added he has "bent over backwards" to keep legislators and others in state government apprised of his plans.

He said the quick resignation of Haro is unfortunate, adding her departure had nothing to do with any possible hard feelings over his dismantling of the DCED, or poor morale, if any, left in the diminished department Haro would have overseen.

"I pushed her pretty hard to take the job," Huntsman said. And she really is leaving because of personal, family concerns, he added.

While saying he respects the work those let go did for the state, some people must realize that public service in appointed positions is for a short time only, not a career, Huntsman said. Some of those fired had served during most of the 12 years of the Leavitt/Walker administration.

Twice an ambassador for GOP presidents, Huntsman said when he was asked to leave his first ambassadorship (after President George H.W. Bush lost his 1992 re-election), "all I got was a one-line letter: Thanks for your service."

Criticism of Huntsman, a Republican like a majority of the Legislature, from elected political quarters is muted.

Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, likes the idea of bringing economic development into the governor's office.