Next steps for Huntsman, Herbert and others

The announcement Saturday of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to China is only the beginning of many different processes.

A formal explanation of the plans for the current Huntsman administration and the likely transition to current Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert is supposed to be given Monday, according to both offices. However, what happens between now and the 2010 election is pretty clearly detailed in state law and tradition.

First, Huntsman will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, a process that will take up to two months. That will include a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, during which members of his own Republican Party may actually cause the biggest problems.

That process will not be new for Huntsman, who has been through that process twice previously without much problem.

Typically, a sitting governor will not resign until his or her nomination has been confirmed. When former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt was chosen by President George W. Bush to head the Environmental Protection Agency in 2003, he waited until after confirmation by the full Senate to resign — a process that, in his case, took 80 days from the announcement because of political roadblocks thrown up by Democrats.

If and when Huntsman is confirmed, he would resign, and Herbert would be sworn in as Utah's 17th governor. Once governor, Herbert would appoint a new lieutenant governor.

Much like former Gov. Olene Walker, who took over for Leavitt, Herbert will then have less than a year in office and one legislative session to prove his mettle before facing delegates.

Because of an amendment to the Utah Constitution that was approved by statewide voters in 2008, a special election will be held in 2010 for a two-year gubernatorial term. Previously, the new governor would have been able to serve out the term.

The law was changed, at least in part, because legislators were concerned that a governor who had never faced direct election could potentially serve, since the new lieutenant governor would be appointed.

As with any gubernatorial election, candidates will have to go through the convention process, possible primary elections and the general election.

E-MAIL: lee@desnews.com; jloftin@desnews.com