From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (July 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. taken at a January 2007 dinner function.
16th Governor of Utah
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2005
Lieutenant(s)	Gary R. Herbert
Preceded by	Olene S. Walker
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	March 26, 1960 (1960-03-26) (age 47) Palo Alto, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Mary Kaye Huntsman
Profession	Politician
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. (born March 26, 1960 in Palo Alto, California) is the governor of the state of Utah, having won the office in the 2004 election, with Gary R. Herbert as his lieutenant governor. He was elected with 57% of the vote over Democrat Scott Matheson Jr.. His term as the 16th governor of Utah began on January 3, 2005.

Huntsman is the son of billionaire businessman and philanthropist Jon Huntsman of Huntsman Corporation. His maternal grandfather David B. Haight was an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which Huntsman and his family are also members. He attended the University of Utah where he became a Sigma Chi and then went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has eight brothers and sisters and over 60 nieces and nephews on his side of the family.

Huntsman is a seventh-generation Utahn; his wife Mary Kaye is a first-generation Utahn. Together they have seven children: Mary Anne (b. 1985), Abigail (b. 1988), Elizabeth (b. 1989), Jon III (b. 1991), William (b. 1993), Gracie Mei (b. 2000) who is adopted from China, and another baby girl from India, Asha Bharati (b. 2006).

Prior to his election, Huntsman served as a White House staff assistant in the Reagan Administration, U.S. ambassador to Singapore in the administration of President George H.W. Bush, and as deputy United States trade representative in the George W. Bush Administration. In addition to his public service, Huntsman served as an executive for the Huntsman Corporation, the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and Huntsman Family Holdings Company. Other organizations he has served include the Utah Opera, Envision Utah, the Coalition for Utah's Future, and KSL's Family Now campaign. He served an LDS mission in Taiwan and speaks fluent Standard Mandarin Chinese.

He has presided over the strongest economy in the State's history and has championed the largest increases in education funding in the State's history while simulaneously providing the largest income tax cut and one of the most significant tax reform packages in the State's history. Huntsman campaigned on paying for the expenses associated with the States's explosive growth rates by expanding the economy. He continues to make this one of his top priorities. Huntsman has also spoken in favor of providing health insurance to all Utahns and to preserving the environment for future generations.

Huntsman is also a self-proclaimed fan of the progressive rock genre and on July 30th, 2007, attended a concert by progressive metal band Dream Theater. Later that day, Huntsman signed a proclamation creating "Dream Theater Day" on that date for the state of Utah. According to Dream Theater's website (dreamtheater.net), Huntsman is a keyboard player.

Current as of April, 2007

• Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. official state site
• National Governors Association - Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. biography
• Follow the Money - Jon M Huntsman Jr & Gary R Herbert 2004 campaign contributions
• On the Issues - Jon Huntsman issue positions and quotes
• Project Vote Smart - Governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. (UT) profile
• Dream Theater - The Official Site biographical information