"We can start getting Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert up to speed on all of the issues in the state," Perry said, through a series of one-on-one meetings with members of the governor's cabinet.

Also, Perry said, he and Herbert will be meeting with key lawmakers "to start establishing some priorities for this coming session and for his administration."

Already high on that list? Economic development, Perry said, now more critical than ever because of the impact of the financial meltdown on state revenues. Herbert, he said, is counting on dollars generated by new businesses to help offset the anticipated budget shortfall.

That means Perry won't be leaving economic development behind anytime soon.

"I kind of have my feet in both places for right now," Perry said. "Even in my role as transition director and anything else that Lt. Gov. Herbert asks me to do, I'm still going to have a lot of interest in what happens in this office of economic development."

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