THE GOV

Awards and Achievements

Personal Insights 

·    Utah's 16th governor, sworn into office January 2005

 

·    Attended Highland High School (Salt Lake City) and the University of Pennsylvania

 

·    7th generation Utahn

 

·    Speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese

 

·    He and his wife, Mary Kaye, have seven children, including two adopted daughters from China and India

 

·    Public service career began as a White House staff assistant to President Ronald Reagan

 

·    US ambassador to Singapore (the youngest US ambassador in a century)

 

·    Ogden Air Logistics Center's Annual Recognition Awards Banquet, Honors Jon Huntsman Jr. for the generous commitment of time, support and inspiration to the men and women of Hill Air Force Base. 12 March 2007.

 

·    Eagle Scout Award

 

·    Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award given to Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. for outstanding leadership in adopting strong energy efficient goals for the State of Utah by Southwest Energy Efficiency project. 16 November 2006

 

·    Taxpayer Advocate of the Year Award, 2007.  – Utah Taxpayer's Association

 

·    Medal of Merit for his support of the Utah National Guard and military - July 2007

 

·    Chairman Western Governor's Association 2007 - 2008  

 

 

State of Utah Stats

 


Utah #1“The Best Managed State in the Nation”-The Pew Center on the StatesReported in Governing Magazine: Measuring Performance  

 

Beacon Hill Institute, State Competitiveness Report for 2007 “MOST COMPETETIVE STATE FOR BUSINESS”-Beacon Hill Institute  

 

Utah #1“MOST DYNAMIC ECONOMY”-Kauffman 2007 State New Economy IndexØ           

          #2 “Inventor Patents” 

          #2 “E-Gov’t”         

          #3 “Online Population”           

          #4 “Fastest Growing Firms”  

 

Utah #2“BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS”-Forbes Magazine  

 

Utah #3“AMERICA’S TOP TEN STATES FOR BUSINESS”-CNBC Utah

 

#5“TOP TEN PRO-BUSINESS STATES”-Keeping Jobs in America:Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States   

 

Utah Ranked 3rd in the Nation as an Economic Development Hot Spot[1]Expansion Management and National Policy Research Council 


 ·    Utah ranks 34th in population (over 2.5 million residents)

 

·    13th in total land area (near 85,000 square miles)

 

·    Rate of job growth – ranks 2nd (5.2% in 2006)

 

·    Median age – ranks 1st (28.5)

 

·    Life expectancy – ranks 3rd (78.6 years)

 

·    Unemployment rate – ranks 2nd (3.3% in 2006)

 

·    243 cities and towns in Utah

 

·    St. George fastest growing metro area in America

 

·    Salt Lake City ranked as the 48th largest metro area in America