8 Things to Know About Trump's Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman
7. He was governor of Utah
Huntsman served as governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009, resigning from his post in 2009 to serve as ambassador to China under the Obama administration.
The Utah state Capitol's website offers a glowing review of his tenure, noting that at one point his approval rating among the state was at 90 percent.
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"Under his leadership, Utah was rated the best-managed state in the country by the Pew Center on the States' Grading the States 2008 Report," noted the Utah site.
"As governor, he cut taxes by more than $400 million and expanded Utah's economy. Huntsman also pursued increased teacher compensation, as well as better student access to literacy, math, and science programs. Huntsman kept a steady job growth rate in Utah during the 2008 recession, a time that marked one of the largest employment declines in U.S. history."
Others did take a more critical view of his administration, with USA Today reporting in 2011 that some conservatives took issue with some of his left of center policies while governor.
"In December 2008, Huntsman sought money from what became the federal stimulus plan, which won only three Republican votes in Congress," reported USA Today.
"Huntsman's support for a February 2009 initiative to allow civil unions in Utah, which has a ban on gay marriage in the constitution, also has raised eyebrows among conservatives."
