Huntsman Jr. announces candidacy for Utah gubernatorial campaign

The same family that brought Penn Jon M. Huntsman Hall may be providing Utah with its next governor.

A 1987 College graduate, Republican Jon M. Huntsman Jr. announced his candidacy for governor of Utah in the 2004 race on Wednesday.

After gubernatorial incumbent Mike Leavitt was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the director of the Environmental Protection Agency, he officially declined to run for a fourth term in anticipation of Senate confirmation.

Huntsman "gave his word that if Mike ran, he would not run," Huntsman's campaign manager Brad Probst said. "Jon is in the race because the door is open now."

"I am enthused and excited about the prospects," Huntsman said. "And the reason I'm particularly excited is because Utah is now at a crossroads... now we're asking ourselves 'what next?'"

He added that he thinks the focal points of the election will be jobs, the economy and education.

Huntsman's platform is based on "the overriding need in Utah [to create] high paying and stable jobs for the prosperity of the future generations," Huntsman said in a statement posted on the campaign Web site.

Probst identified two major issues in Utah which Huntsman intends to address if elected -- "economic stability and a world-class education."

"We want to sell Utah," Probst continued. "We want to make sure Utah has an economy that will attract new businesses and that will help maintain the current businesses that we have in Utah."

Huntsman must face approximately 14 other candidates at the Utah Republican convention -- held to sift through the candidates before sending just two into the primaries.

"Jon stands a very good chance," Executive Director for the Utah Republican Party Chris Bleak said. "He's an excellent candidate and one that should do very well.... There are a number of very credible candidates. Huntsman is certainly one of them."

Probst cited Huntsman's leadership experience as an indicator of his qualifications for governor.

He is currently the Chairman and CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings Company LLC, the umbrella organization which controls the assets of the Huntsman chemical firm. He previously served as the United States Trade Ambassador, as ambassador to Singapore and as a staff assistant under former President Ronald Reagan.

"He's always had a commitment to public service," Probst said. "And he thinks that serving as governor of Utah would serve the best interests at this time."

Huntsman would serve in "whatever capacity he thinks best at that particular time," he said.

Penn officials said they support Huntsman's efforts.

"Our feeling is that Jon Jr. is a distinguished graduate of the University, and he's had a distinguished career in government service," Wharton spokesman Steven Oliveira said.

In addition to his public service, he has served Penn as a member of the University Board of Trustees and as chairman of the Huntsman Program for International Studies and Business at the Wharton School.

"We wish him all the best," University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said.

And Huntsman said that his time at Penn enhanced his interest in politics and government.

"Professor Alvin Rubinstein had an enormous impact on me in terms of nurturing a commitment to public service," he said. "Through studying under and learning much about his view of the world, which was a very 'realpolitik' view, it piqued my own interest particularly in international affairs... [and] influenced my career path following Penn."

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