Huntsman to travel the state signing bills

GOP Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., riding a very high popularity rating, will travel the state over the next few weeks, signing bills sponsored by moderate Republican legislators who "have carried a lot of water" for the governor, a Huntsman spokesman said Tuesday.

And some of those GOP legislators face stiff challenges from their party's right wing — a not-too-subtle warning by the governor that he will help those who help him in the Legislature.

Tuesday afternoon, Huntsman went to Taylorsville High School for the ceremonial signing of half a dozen bills sponsored by Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville.

Holdaway, a teacher, "has done a lot of work on education bills" that the governor wanted, Huntsman Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Mower said.

It is no coincidence that Holdaway, a four-term representative, faces an intra-party challenge by Milton Witt, who has resigned as Salt Lake County Republican Party vice chairman to run against Holdaway.

By publicly backing Holdaway, Huntsman is putting personal loyalty above pure politics.

The personal appearance by the governor can make a difference with voters and provides a nice assist prior to next week's party caucuses, Holdaway said. He could not gauge, however, how much his constituents would be swayed by the visit.

"Having the governor supportive of issues to you, and having him demonstrate that support, does — I mean, he is the governor," Holdaway said.

Holdaway is one of several House moderates who are being challenged by pro-school choice candidates this year. Parents for Choice in Education, a relatively new political action committee, is raising money and supporting candidates/legislators who favor giving tax credits or vouchers to parents who send their children to private schools. Holdaway has steadfastly voted against tuition tax credits, believing along with other pro-public education advocates that tax credits and vouchers will harm public school funding.

The PAC spent more than $322,000 in the 2004 election cycle, most of it in legislative races.

Huntsman does support private school tax credits.

And while Holdaway and a core of other moderate House Republicans have stood with House Democrats to defeat the controversial credits in recent Legislatures, Huntsman is looking beyond that, aides say.

"Kory has greatly helped this administration's education agenda," Mower said. "He has been a strong ally and supporter. He's done some heavy lifting for us. And we want to thank him publicly."

Huntsman told the Deseret Morning News the weekend before the Legislature adjourned March 1 that in the upcoming legislative races, he would be campaigning and speaking for legislators who stand with him. Half of the Senate and all of the House are up for election.