SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. will resign and accept an appointment as ambassador to China, ABC 4 has confirmed.
The official announcement came during a press conference held by President Obama Saturday morning at the White House in the Diplomatic Room.
President Obama asked the people of Utah to forgive him for taking their Governor but called the China ambassadorship a job, "as important as any in the world."
Governor Huntsman said Saturday that he wasn't looking for a new job, but "When the President of the United States asks you to step up and serve in a capacity like this, that to me is the end of the conversation."
Jon Huntsman, surrounded by his family, also spoke of his affection for Utah.
"I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the people of the greatest state in America. Life's greatest honor has been to serve the people of Utah."
The appointment means that Lt. governor Gary Herbert will become Utah's next governor. Since Huntsman has only served a few months into his second term, a special election will be held in 2010.
The U.S. Senate will have to confirm the appointment.
Gubernatorial succession is an issue recently addressed by Utah's electorate. Constitutional amendment A or the Utah Executive Officers Succession Amendment just passed on the November 2008 ballot.
Its passage requires that the next person to serve as Utah's chief executive would be named as "acting governor" and that means current Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert would get only two and not four years in office. Then, a special new election would be held in 2010.
The reasoning behind Amendment A was born in the succession from Governor Mike Leavitt to Governor Olene Walker. Leavitt accepted an appointment to head the Environmental Protection Agency by President George W. Bush in August of 2003, and Walker was sworn in as Utah governor in November of 2003.
There was considerable debate as to whether Walker should hold the title of "governor" or "acting governor" and there was also debate over whether midterm gubernatorial appointments should serve the remainder of an outgoing governor's four-year term.
Rumors about Huntsman possibly accepting midterm cabinet appointments from 2008 republican presidential candidate John McCain were certainly on the minds of lawmakers who drafted Amendment A. Huntsman is a close ally of McCain and campaigned on his behalf during the 2008 presidential election.
Ironically, Amendment A was signed into law a little more than a month ago by none other than Jon M. Huntsman Jr.
State senator John Valentine was one of the men who helped draft Amendment A. Valentine spoke with ABC 4 Friday night and said he was surprised Amendment A would implemented so soon after its passage.
Valentine said he could not confirm if he was planning on running for governor in the expected special 2010 election.
ABC 4 spoke with Congressman Jim Matheson as he returned from Washington D.C. late Friday night. Matheson expressed surprise that Huntsman would resign so soon after re-election, but also said the move was a "good appointment."
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Kristine Pratt contributed to this story
Senator Orrin Hatch statement on Huntsman appointment
Washington, D. C. – Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) made the following statement this morning after President Obama named Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. as Ambassador to China.
“I want to commend President Barack Obama for nominating Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. as the Ambassador to China. His qualifications are tailor-made for this important position on the world stage. He has spent many years studying, living, and serving people in this part of the world; as well as representing America’s democratic ideals throughout the region. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Taiwan, he was appointed by President George W. Bush as Deputy
U. S. Trade Representative, and he honorably served under President George H. W. Bush as Ambassador to Singapore. Yet perhaps most closely aligned with his heart, Governor Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye were able to adopt their beloved daughter Gracie Mei from China.
“Ambassador to China is perhaps one of the most important positions of its kind in our world today. Our economic ties have become integral to the world markets, and the huge bilateral trade volume that exists between our countries cannot be overstated.
“America needs a strong leader to represent our nation in China as the world continues to get more complicated and dangerous; and I believe Governor Huntsman is the right person for the job. He has continually displayed solid leadership throughout his service as the Governor of Utah, and I know he will be committed to serving our nation’s interests to the best of his abilities in a country with continually emerging economic and social interests. I am ready and happy to help Governor Huntsman through the nomination process, and will be honored to introduce him to the people who will be voting on this important position.
“I also want to extend my best wishes to Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert who will be assuming the Governorship. He will be a great Governor, and will have the best interests of this state first and foremost on his heart and mind. I am certain the people of Utah will rally around him and support him in this new endeavor.”
Senator Bob Bennett statement on Huntsman appointment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) this morning made the following comments after hearing that President Obama has selected Utah Governor Jon Huntsman to be the U.S. Ambassador to China:
“Governor Huntsman is well qualified to be Ambassador to China; I recommended him for that post when Colin Powell was Secretary of State. He will take up his duties at a time when the relationship between our two countries is of great importance. All Utahns should take pride in this and all Americans should wish him well.”
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon statement on Hunstman appointment
"I'd like to congratulate Governor Huntsman on this honor. It is vitally important that the U.S. continues to build a strong relationship with China and I believe that President Obama has made a great choice in Jon Huntsman, Jr. The Governor worked hard to build relationships with Salt Lake County and other local governments. His vision and service will be missed. I thank the Governor for his service to our great state and wish his family well on their diplomatic mission."
