| Jon Huntsman, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| 9th United States Ambassador to China | |
| In office August 11, 2009 – April 30, 2011 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Clark Randt |
| Succeeded by | Gary Locke |
| 16th Governor of Utah | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – August 11, 2009 |
|
| Lieutenant | Gary Herbert |
| Preceded by | Olene Walker |
| Succeeded by | Gary Herbert |
| 11th United States Ambassador to Singapore | |
| In office August 11, 1992 – June 15, 1993 |
|
| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Robert Orr |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Boyce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. March 26, 1960 Redwood City, California |
| Political party | Republican Party |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Kaye Cooper (m. 1983–present) |
| Children | Mary Anne (b. 1985) Abigail (b. 1986) Elizabeth (b. 1988) Jon (b. 1991) William (b. 1993) Gracie Mei (b. 1999) Asha Bharati (b. 2006) |
| Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (B.A.) |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
| Signature | |
| Website | jonhuntsmanjr.com |
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. (born March 26, 1960) is an American politician, businessman, and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.[1]
Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for Ronald Reagan, and he was appointed by George H.W. Bush as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce and later as United States Ambassador to Singapore from 1992–1993. Huntsman served as Deputy United States Trade Representative under George W. Bush, launching global trade negotiations in Doha, Qatar in 2001 and guiding the accession of China and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization.
Huntsman has also served as CEO of his family's Huntsman Corporation and was elected Governor of Utah in April, 2004 and won re-election in 2008 with nearly 78% of the vote. While governor, he also served as chairman of the Western Governors Association and as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Governors Association. On August 11, 2009, he resigned as governor to accept an appointment by Barack Obama as the United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China. He submitted his resignation as ambassador on January 31, 2011, in order to explore a presidential campaign.
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Huntsman was born March 26, 1960 in Redwood City, California.[2] His mother is Karen Haight Huntsman, daughter of LDS Church apostle David B. Haight.[3] His father is billionaire businessman and philanthropist Jon Huntsman, Sr. of the Huntsman Corporation.[4] Through his father, Huntsman, Jr. is the great-great-great-grandson of early LDS Church leader Parley P. Pratt.[5]
In 1975 (age 15), Huntsman earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America.[6][7] Huntsman attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City but dropped out before graduating to pursue his passion as a keyboard player in the rock band Wizard.[8][9]
Huntsman later obtained a G.E.D. and enrolled at the University of Utah, where he became, like his father, a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Huntsman served as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan for two years. He then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor's degree in international politics in 1987.
From 1987 to 1988, Huntsman and his family lived and worked in Taipei. After college, Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant in President Ronald Reagan's administration. In the 1988 presidential election, he was a state delegate at the 1988 Republican National Convention.[10]
Under President George H. W. Bush, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for trade development and commerce for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. In June 1992, Bush appointed him to become U.S. Ambassador to Singapore,[11] and was confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate in August.[12][13] When questioned by U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, he said that he had been the chairman of Utah's presidential fundraising committee and had donated $2,000 to the Bush campaign, an amount that Sarbanes described as "not a large amount really".[14] He became the youngest U.S. Ambassador to serve in over 100 years.[15]
In addition to his public service, Huntsman served as an executive for the Huntsman Corporation, the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, and CEO of Huntsman Family Holdings Company. Other organizations he has served include the Utah Opera, Envision Utah, the Coalition for Utah's Future, and KSL-TV's Family Now campaign.
In January 2001, after George W. Bush took office as President, the Washington Post reported there was a strong possibility Huntsman would be appointed U.S. Ambassador to China.[16] In March, he reportedly turned down the nomination to be the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia.[17] On March 28, Bush appointed Huntsman to be one of two Deputy United States Trade Representatives in his administration.[18]
In March 2003, Huntsman resigned his post in the Bush administration. In mid-August, three term incumbent Governor Mike Leavitt, whom Huntsman strongly supported, decided not to run for re-election to a fourth term, in order to become the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Bush administration.[19][20][21] Shortly thereafter, Huntsman filed papers to run for Governor of Utah.[22]
In the May 2004, a convention was held for nominating a candidate. A candidate must win 60% of the nominating delegates votes to receive the party nomination and avoid a primary. If no candidate wins at least 60% of the vote, the two candidates who receive the most votes will run in the June 22, 2004 primary to determine who wins the Republican Party nomination. Huntsman lead an eight candidate field with 30% of the vote and qualified for the primary. State Representative Nolan Karras also qualified for the primary, obtaining 29% of the vote.[23] In the June 2004 primary, he defeated Karras 66%-34%.[24]
In November 2004, Huntsman was elected Governor with 58% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party nominee Scott Matheson, Jr.[25]
Huntsman maintained extremely high approval ratings as Governor of Utah hitting 90% approval at times. In 2008, he won re-election with 77.7% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party nominee Bob Springmeyer.[26] He left office with his approval ratings over 80%.[27][28][29] Utah was named the best managed state by the Pew Center on the States.[30] Following his term as governor, Utah was also named a top 3 state to do business in.[31] The 2006 Cato Institute,(libertarian think tank) evaluation gave Huntsman an overall fiscal policy grade of "B"; the institute gave him an "A" on tax policy and an "F" on spending policy.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey, Utah was ranked number one in the nation in job growth during Huntsman's tenure, a rate of 5.9% between 2005 and 2009. However, according to the Bureau's Current Employment Statistics survey, Utah ranked number four in the country in job creation, with 4.8% growth. Utah trailed Texas (6.5%), North Dakota (7.5%), and Wyoming (9.5%).[32]
The Utah Taxpayers Association estimates that "tax cuts from 2005 to 2007 totaled $407 million." Huntsman proposed eliminating the corporate franchise tax for small businesses making less than $5 million. During his term as governor, he was successful in having Utah replace its progressive income tax (with a top rate of 7%) with a flat tax of 5%; cut the statewide sales tax rate from 4.75% to 4.65% and sales tax on unprepared food from 4.70% to 1.75%; and raise motor vehicle registration fees. He proposed a 400% increase in cigarette taxes, but the measure was never signed into law.
During his tenure, the state budget rose from $16.7 to $22.8 billion.[33] As a percentage of state GDP, state and local spending went from 20.22% of GDP in 2004 to 19.76% in 2008 and 21.47% in 2009. [34] Utah saw spending increases higher than inflation and in 2006 he proposed the largest state budget in the state's history.
He supported Cap and trade policies and as governor signed the Western Climate Initiative.[35] He also supported an increase in the federal minimum wage.[36] He also cut some regulations, including Utah's very strict alcohol laws.[37]
In 2007, he signed into law the Parent Choice in Education Act which he said was "the largest school-voucher bill to date in the United States. This massive school-choice program provides scholarships ranging from $500 to $3000 to help parents send their children to the private school of their choice. The program is open to all current public school children as well as some children already in private school."
Huntsman was one of John McCain's earliest supporters in the 2008 presidential campaign,[38][39] while most Utah and Mormon politicians supported Mitt Romney.[40] Huntsman helped McCain campaign in New Hampshire and went with him to Iraq over Thanksgiving 2007.[41] At the 2008 Republican National Convention, Huntsman delivered a nominating speech for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the party's nominee for Vice President.[42]
In 2008, he successively proposed tax credits for families purchasing their own health insurance, as well as income tax credits for capital gains and solar projects.[43]
President Barack Obama nominated Jon Huntsman to serve as the United States Ambassador to China on May 16, 2009, noting his experience in the region and proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. His nomination was formally delivered to the Senate on July 6, 2009, and on July 23, 2009, he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,[44] which favorably reported his nomination to the full Senate on August 4, 2009.[45] On August 7, 2009, the Senate unanimously confirmed Huntsman[46] and he formally resigned as Governor of Utah and was sworn in as Ambassador to China on August 11, 2009.[47]
Huntsman arrived in Beijing on August 21, 2009 to begin his assignment and he delivered his first press conference on August 22 after a meeting with Commerce Minister Chen Deming.[48]
In February 2011, Huntsman was the target of China's Internet policing in the wake of the 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests, otherwise known as the Jasmine Revolution.[49][50] Huntsman was captured on video at a square crowded with protesters. When approached by a demonstrator, he reportedly said: "I'm just here to look around."[51] The event was termed "The Huntsman Walk",[52] and his Chinese name, 洪博培 (Hóng Bópéi),[53] was temporarily blocked from Chinese search engines.[54]
Huntsman resigned from his position as Ambassador, effective April 30, 2011, in order to return to the United States to explore a 2012 Republican presidential bid.
Huntsman's name appeared on lists of potential Republican nominees for the 2012 presidential election as early as 2008 and 2009,[55][56] and John McCain specifically mentioned Huntsman as a potential candidate for the 2012 election in March 2009.[57] Huntsman was an early supporter of John McCain's and bundled more than $500,000 for McCain's presidential campaign in 2008.[58]
Of McCain's loss, Huntsman observed "We're fundamentally staring down a demographic shift that we've never seen before in America."[59] On November 12, 2008 Politico called him a possible 2012 contender.[60] Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza also speculated Huntsman as a possible candidate.[40][61]
Many Republicans were touting Huntsman as a possible rising star in the party and that he has a role in reshaping the party. Utah businessman Republican activist Tim Bridgewater said "Huntsman has a very bright future." Huntsman said that "I think there will be a lot of personalities emerging between now and 2012. I think the party needs to be smart enough to maintain an open mind. Obama was nowhere on the radar screen four years ago."[62] In June 2009, Huntsman top advisor John Weaver, who was also an advisor for McCain, claimed "I firmly believe that Huntsman and people like him are the prescription for what ails us. But I have the feeling that our party maybe won't order that prescription in 2012."[63]
In August 2010, a group of political strategists close to Huntsman formed a political action committee now called Horizon PAC that could provide a framework for launching Huntsman's campaign. This PAC was formed in part to draft Huntsman into running for president.[64] On February 22, 2011, Horizon PAC launched its official website, which made no direct reference to Huntsman but stated that the PAC's mission is "to help elect a new generation of conservative candidates for local and state offices all across America."[65] The PAC's website also states that it "supports free-market values, principled leadership and a commitment to long-term solutions".[66]
A January 1, 2011, a Newsweek article entitled "The Manchurian Candidate" featured an interview with Huntsman, in which he stated, "You know, I'm really focused on what we're doing in our current position. ... But we won't do this forever, and I think we may have one final run left in our bones." Asked specifically whether he intended to run for president in 2012, he declined to comment.[67] The article generated significant speculation about a likely Huntsman 2012 presidential bid.[68]
On January 31, 2011, Huntsman submitted his formal resignation from his post as U.S. Ambassador to China effective April 30, 2011, indicating his plans to return to the United States at that time. Both top Democrats and close associates of Huntsman indicated that he was likely to explore a 2012 Republican presidential bid.[69][70][71]
On May 3, 2011, he formed an official fundraising political action committee, building on the efforts of the previously established Horizon PAC.[72] On May 18, 2011, Huntsman opened his 2012 national campaign headquarters in Orlando, FL. On June 14, during an interview with Harold Evans, he said he would announce his campaign for president on June 21.[73][74]
Huntsman formally entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination on June 21, 2011, announcing his bid in a speech at Liberty State Park in New Jersey, with the Statue of Liberty in the background—the same site where Ronald Reagan launched his campaign in 1980.[75][76]
Huntsman has been described by the Huffington Post as "a conservative technocrat-optimist with moderate positions who was willing to work substantively with President Barack Obama"[77] and identifies himself as a center-right conservative.[78]
As governor, Huntsman listed economic development, health-care reform, education, and energy security as his top priorities. He oversaw tax cuts and advocated reorganizing the way that services were distributed so that the government would not become overwhelmed by the state's fast growing population. He also proposed a plan to reform health-care, mainly through the private sector, by using tax breaks and negotiation to keep prices down.[79] In 2007, when asked about a healthcare mandate, Huntsman said, "I'm comfortable with a requirement – you can call it whatever you want, but at some point we're going to have to get serious about how we deal with this issue".[80]
According to Haley Barbour, the current governor of Mississippi:
Jon Huntsman and I served together, and while we don't agree on some issues, there's no question that he's a conservative. He's way to the right of Barack Obama for goodness sake. But yeah, I consider Jon a conservative. As I said, we have some issues that I think are important that we have different views on. But he was in the Reagan administration, elected governor of a very conservative state—elected and re-elected by the way. So if you're asking me if Jon Huntsman is qualified to the Republican nominee for President of the United States, the answer is, of course he is.[81]
While Governor, Huntsman spoke out against his own party over the failure of the Republican-controlled Utah Senate to confirm his nominee for the Utah Court of Appeals.
In a 2008 evaluation of state governors' fiscal policies, the libertarian Cato Institute praised Huntsman's conservative tax policies, ranking him in a tie for fifth place on overall fiscal policy. He was particularly lauded for his efforts to cut taxes. The report specifically highlighted his reductions of the sales tax and simplification of the tax code.[82] However, the report concluded that: "Unfortunately, Huntsman has completely dropped the ball on spending, with per capita spending increasing at about 10 percent annually during his tenure."[82] He defines his taxation policy as "business friendly".[83]
As part of his presidential campaign, Huntsman claimed that "our tax code has devolved into a maze of special-interest carve-outs, loopholes and temporary provisions that cost taxpayers more than $400 billion a year to comply with." The candidate called for "[getting] rid of all tax expenditures, all loopholes, all deductions, all subsidies. Use that to lower rates across the board. And do it on a revenue-neutral basis."[84]
In addition, Huntsman has proposed reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%, eliminating corporate taxes on income earned overseas, and implementing a tax holiday for repatriation of corporate profits. He favors eliminating taxes on capital gains and dividends.[85]
As the governor of Utah, Huntsman signed numerous bills restricting abortion.[86] Huntsman has supported civil unions for years but not same-sex marriage.[87] As Utah's Governor, he supported legislation that would have allowed civil unions for same-sex couples in the state.[88]
In 2007, in response to the issue of global warming, Huntsman signed the Western Climate Initiative, by which Utah joined with other governments in agreeing to pursue targets for reduced production of greenhouse gases.[89] He also appeared in an advertisement sponsored by Environmental Defense, in which he said, "Now it's time for Congress to act by capping greenhouse-gas pollution."[89]
In 2011, however, Huntsman said, "Cap-and-trade ideas aren't working; it hasn't worked, and our economy's in a different place than five years ago. Much of this discussion happened before the bottom fell out of the economy, and until it comes back, this isn't the moment."[90] "There's not enough information right now to formulate policies in terms of addressing it over all, primarily because it's a global issue," Huntsman said. "We can enact policies here, but I wouldn't want to unilaterally disarm as a country. I wouldn't want to hinder job creators at a time when our economy is flat."[91]
Huntsman is an advocate for the Keystone XL pipeline project.[92]
Huntsman has repeatedly stated, "We need to continue working closely with China to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program." He has also named Taiwan, human rights, and Tibet among the "areas where we have differences with China" and vowed "robust engagement" on human rights if confirmed. The governor, who lived in Taiwan as a Mormon missionary, said he felt "personally invested in the peaceful resolution of cross-strait differences, in a way that respects the wishes of the people on both Taiwan and the mainland. He said that current US policy "supports this objective, and I have been encouraged by the recent relaxing of cross-strait tensions."[93] Huntsman is a strong supporter of Israel and has made several visits to Israel.[94]
In June 2007, Huntsman joined other Western governors in urging the Senate to pass comprehensive immigration reform.[95] In 2005, Huntsman signed a bill giving illegal aliens access to "driving-privilege cards", which allowed them to have driving privileges but unlike driver licenses, cannot be used for identification purposes.[96] As Governor, Huntsman threatened to veto a measure repealing in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants.[97]
Huntsman has stated support for a border fence "for me, as an American, the thought of a fence to some extent repulses me ... but the situation is such that I don't think we have a choice."[98] In the September 9th, CNN GOP debate, Huntsman suggested that the country needed more legal immigration, claiming that it will revive America's housing market, citing Vancouver's quickly growing real estate market as evidence.[99] Huntsman also supports granting more H-1B visas to foreigners.[100]
Huntsman has eight brothers and sisters, and he and his wife have seven children: Mary Anne (b. 1985), Abigail (b. 1986), Elizabeth (b. 1988), Jon III (b. 1991), William (b. 1993), Gracie Mei (b. 1999; adopted from China), and Asha Bharati (b. 2006; adopted from India). He is a self-proclaimed fan of the progressive rock genre and played keyboards during high school in the band Wizard.[101]
On July 30, 2007, he 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.[102] Huntsman also joined REO Speedwagon on the piano for two songs during their concert at the Utah State Fair on September 16, 2005. Huntsman is a fan of riding motocross, and he helped in pushing outdoor sporting activities and outdoor tourism for the State of Utah.[103]
Huntsman has been awarded six honorary doctorate degrees,[104] including an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Snow College in 2005,[105] an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Westminster College in 2008,[106] an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Utah in 2010,[107] an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010,[108] and an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Southern New Hampshire University in 2011.[109] He has been recognized as a Significant Sig by Sigma Chi.[110]
In 2007 he was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the BSA. He is a founding director of the Pacific Council on International Policy and has served on the boards of the Brookings Institution Asia Policy Board, the Asia Society in New York, and the National Bureau of Asian Research.
Huntsman was brought up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and stated in a May 2011 interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, "I believe in God. I'm a good Christian. I'm very proud of my Mormon heritage. I am Mormon."[111]
Moreover, he told Newsweek in December 2010 that the LDS Church doesn't have a monopoly on his spiritual life.[112] In an interview with Time magazine, he stated that he is more spiritual than religious and that his membership in the LDS Church is "tough to define".[113][114] Although still Mormon, Huntsman has said that he and his wife draw from an array of sources for inspiration, stating:
I was raised a Mormon, Mary Kaye was raised Episcopalian, our kids have gone to Catholic school, I went to a Lutheran school growing up in Los Angeles. I have an adopted daughter from India who has a very distinct Hindu tradition, one that we would celebrate during Diwali. So you kind of bind all this together.[112]
Huntsman professes a firm belief in science, rejecting the notion that faith and evolution are mutually exclusive. In response to Rick Perry's creationist world view,[115] Huntsman warned that the Republicans should not become the "anti-science" party, and stated: "To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy."[116]
| Utah gubernatorial election, 2008[117] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Jon Huntsman, Jr. (inc.) | 735,049 | 77.63% | +19.89% | |
| Democratic | Bob Springmeyer | 186,503 | 19.72% | -21.62% | |
| Libertarian | Dell Schanze | 24,820 | 2.62% | ||
| Write-ins | 153 | 0.02% | |||
| Majority | 547,546 | 57.91% | +41.51% | ||
| Turnout | 945,525 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Utah gubernatorial election, 2004[118] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican Party | Jon Huntsman, Jr. | 531,190 | 57.74% | +1.97% | |
| Democratic | Scott Matheson, Jr. | 380,359 | 41.35% | -0.92% | |
| Personal Choice | Ken Larsen | 8,399 | 0.91% | ||
| Write-ins | 12 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 150,831 | 16.40% | +2.89% | ||
| Turnout | 919,960 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Olene S. Walker |
Governor of Utah 2005–2009 |
Succeeded by Gary Herbert |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Michael Leavitt |
Republican Party nominee for Governor of Utah 2004, 2008 |
Most recent |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Robert D. Orr |
United States Ambassador to Singapore 1992–1993 |
Succeeded by Ralph L. Boyce, Jr. |
| Preceded by Clark T. Randt, Jr. |
United States Ambassador to China 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by Gary Locke |
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