A New Day
Gov. Huntsman is hitting the right notes. His skills are amazing. Utah has a long and unbroken string of good governors. I do not doubt that Gov. Huntsman will add another link to that chain. In fact, I am quite optimistic he will lead the State to new heights. There is an excitement on Capitol Hill that a new day is beginning to dawn.
Gov. Huntsman's cabinet decisions are solid. Along with keeping good ones, like Diane Nielson (environmental quality), John Njord (transportation), and Bob Flowers (public safety), I'm particularly pleased that Sen. Leonard Blackham (agriculture) and Rep. Mike Styler (natural resources) have joined the cabinet. Leonard and Mike bring much legislative experience and know-how, having been at the very core of legislative activities; last session, Leonard was over Senate appropriations and Mike was the House's assistant whip. Bob Bernick writes a good article on the transition and notes, "New ideas are needed. But a lot of veteran legislators and state managers alike have experience. And that's worth something, too."
It's very hard work bringing together the two houses of the legislature and, then, coordinating it all with the executive. We all have our opinions and responsibilities. Leonard and Mike speak our language. Until the Gov and his new staff learn it and until we learn his new language, Leonard and Mike can translate. We need to pull together, and the people need to pull for us. Utah has unique strengths (e.g., volunteerism, strong families, solid communities, and unmatched natural beauties and opportunities). If we can figure out ways to tap these strengths, we will vault this State forward.
UPDATE (1/9/05): Here's a Tribune article on the first week. I agree w/ Speaker Curtis; Gov. Huntsman is doing a good job of reaching out to the legislature. After I penned the entry above, I received a call that Gov. Huntsman wants to meet w/ me for a while this week. Any thoughts you'd like me to pass along?
Gov. Huntsman's cabinet decisions are solid. Along with keeping good ones, like Diane Nielson (environmental quality), John Njord (transportation), and Bob Flowers (public safety), I'm particularly pleased that Sen. Leonard Blackham (agriculture) and Rep. Mike Styler (natural resources) have joined the cabinet. Leonard and Mike bring much legislative experience and know-how, having been at the very core of legislative activities; last session, Leonard was over Senate appropriations and Mike was the House's assistant whip. Bob Bernick writes a good article on the transition and notes, "New ideas are needed. But a lot of veteran legislators and state managers alike have experience. And that's worth something, too."
It's very hard work bringing together the two houses of the legislature and, then, coordinating it all with the executive. We all have our opinions and responsibilities. Leonard and Mike speak our language. Until the Gov and his new staff learn it and until we learn his new language, Leonard and Mike can translate. We need to pull together, and the people need to pull for us. Utah has unique strengths (e.g., volunteerism, strong families, solid communities, and unmatched natural beauties and opportunities). If we can figure out ways to tap these strengths, we will vault this State forward.
UPDATE (1/9/05): Here's a Tribune article on the first week. I agree w/ Speaker Curtis; Gov. Huntsman is doing a good job of reaching out to the legislature. After I penned the entry above, I received a call that Gov. Huntsman wants to meet w/ me for a while this week. Any thoughts you'd like me to pass along?
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1 Comments:
For sometime now, there have been rumors that Gov. John Huntsman would select Sen. Leonard Blackham (R-Moroni) as a member of his Cabinet. I have noticed something about this appointment. Not that Mr. Blackham cannot do the job, in fact I know he can. I have met Blackham and I am from Nephi. In fact I think he will do great. It is the politics that play behind it that interests me.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, and a big one at that, but if you watched the campaign of Mr. Blackham vs. his republican opponent Mr. Peterson, there was a point where it unraveled. During the gubernatorial elections, before the state convention, both Blackham and Peterson had been fairly neutral in the race for Governor, giving no one their direct support, though almost everyone knew that Blackham was in favor of Nolan Karras. Shortly after the convention, it was believed that Peterson too would be supporting Karras because of previous family relations of his father and Karras.
But anyone who lives in Juab and Sanpete Counties knew that wasn't true because there were Peterson signs right next to every Huntsman sign. In fact Karras held a town meeting in Nephi and his staff personally invited Mr. Peterson to attend. He called 10 minutes into the meeting to inform them he wouldn't be attending.
Now look at today's politics: Blackham losses his committee chairmanship and is appointed to the exec position. State Delegates will more than likely vote for Darrin Peterson as his replacement, since he lost to Blackham by a only a few votes. I know politics is all about whom you know and the deal you make. But if this theory is true, Huntsman has Darrin in his pocket and Blackham now works for him.
Now this is a far off theory. In fact I know Blackham and I am excited to see him in this position, he will be able to do a lot of good. I just like to point out the possible conspiracies behind it. It is far fetched and I think both men will do fine were they are.
BenJoe
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