Jon Huntsman Jr.
| Order: | 16th Governor of Utah |
| Term of Office: | January 2005 – |
| Predecessor: | Olene S. Walker |
| Successor: | Incumbent |
| Date of Birth: | March 26, 1960 |
| Place of Birth: | Palo Alto, California |
| First Lady: | Mary Kaye Huntsman |
| Profession: | Businessman |
| Political Party: | Republican |
| Lieutenant Governor: |
Gary Herbert (2005–present) |
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. (born March 26, 1960 in Palo Alto, California, USA) is the governor of the state of Utah, having won the office in the 2004 election, with Gary 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.
He is a Republican, with fiscal conservative views, supports free trade and socially liberal (a rarity in Utah). Huntsman made news in August 2005 when he said that he was opposed to intelligent design being taught in the classroom. He also supports reciprocal benefits for same-sex couples, attends gay rights dinners, and has said that he does not know whether homosexuality is a sin. He is also proponent of a flat-tax, a rise in minimum wage, tax cuts, and the removal of sales tax on food.
Huntsman is working with Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on developing issue papers for Romney's potential 2008 Presidential Campaign. [1]
He is the son of businessman and philanthropist Jon Huntsman of Huntsman Corporation. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended the University of Utah, and graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jon is a seventh generation Utahn; his wife Mary Kaye is a first generation Utahn. Together they have six children, one of whom is adopted from China.
Prior to his election, Mr. Huntsman served as a White House Staff Assistant in the Reagan Administration, as a U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, as a trade minister to East Asia in the George W. Bush Administration and in executive positions for Huntsman Corporation, the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, and Huntsman Family Holdings Company. Other organizations he has served for include the Utah Opera, Envision Utah, the Coalition for Utah's Future, and KSL's Family Now Campaign. He speaks fluent Standard Mandarin Chinese.
Huntsman has consistently high poll ratings from both sides of the aisle.
