Liquor laws, taxes likely legacy for Huntsman?

What will be Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s 4 1/2-year legacy?

History will tell, of course. And that judgment takes time.

But a quick glance in the rearview mirror provides two top contenders — liquor and taxes.

Huntsman led the fight to modernize Utah's quirky liquor laws.

And on his watch the state saw record tax surpluses, record tax cuts and reform of the state's personal income tax.

"He certainly has been a popular governor," said Kelly Patterson, a political science professor at Brigham Young University.

"Both in public polls (where Huntsman has routinely seen 80 percent-plus approval ratings) and in his last election," where Huntsman set a record by getting 77 percent of the vote in a major Utah contest.

All governors come into office with goals. Few leave with most of those goals achieved.

But Huntsman can say he has indeed reached some of the major marks he set out in 2004 when he sought public office for the first time.

Tuesday, Huntsman and most of his immediate family say adieu to Utah as he heads to China as the new United States ambassador.

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert — who promises to continue the work of the Huntsman/Herbert administration — will take office then, and face re-election on his own in 2010.

A Deseret News review of the goals that Huntsman ran on in 2004 and on which he won re-election in 2008 shows that the 49-year-old governor did indeed achieve significant changes.

Most recently, and against the odds placed by many local pundits, Huntsman convinced lawmakers to adopt liquor-by-the-drink.

The 2009 Legislature repealed the old private club membership rules by bringing together a variety of interests, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

And now anyone 21 years old or older can walk into a properly licensed bar and get a mixed drink or a glass of wine without having to buy food or pay a membership fee.

"He was able to put together a broad coalition on many issues," said Patterson, who has studied state politics for more than 15 years.