First, each thinks the other is just swell. Huntsman referred to Matheson as a "class act." The son of the late former Gov. Matheson likewise praised Huntsman, son of the Utah petrochemical billionaire, and suggested he and his GOP foe play a round of golf after the election.
But the crowd of 200 attending Thursday's Utah Information Technology breakfast at the downtown Little America Hotel were more intrigued with the second common point - the critical role both gubernatorial hopefuls saw for high-tech enterprise in the state's future economic develop- ment.
Huntsman said one of his primary goals, if elected, would be to solidify Utah's image nationally and globally as "a viable information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology" haven for developers and investors.
Technology is "about ready to burst open in this state," he said. "We have the critical mass but [efforts to capitalize] have been a little bit discombobulated."
Huntsman presented himself as the kind of business-savvy governor needed to focus the state's marketing and investment efforts, in partnership with homegrown entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business leaders.
First, the Republican said, he would push for extensive tax and regulatory reforms in his first year as governor, paying special attention to the small business sector. Accounting for 85 percent of Utah's businesses, that sector comprises the economic backbone of the state, Huntsman said.
"Maybe we should look at tax forgiveness for small businesses in their first five years," he suggested, adding the state's sales and corporate income taxes also needed overhauling.
Other business-friendly pillars of a Huntsman administration would include pushing for better private-public sector cooperation in pooling entrepreneurial talent and resources. The state's universities are particularly good avenues for Utah to share with research-driven companies for mutual benefit, he said.
"I want Utah to be known as the state where . . . tomorrow's innovations and breakthroughs will occur," Huntsman said. "We have a window of opportunity today that is downright historical."
Matheson agreed, stressing that to take advantage of that opportunity, the state needs a "unified economic development plan" that crosses government and private industry lines so both focus on potential economic growth.
The key to stimulating Utah's tech sector is in reaching a shared "research and development vision," Matheson added, suggesting the "three T's" - technology, teaching and tolerance - guide efforts to polish Utah's image before potential new businesses and investors.
Utah already has a good base for technology in its numerous software, hardware and tech-services companies. Its universities provide respected computer science graduates, thus fulfilling the teaching part of the formula, he said.
That leaves tolerance. While Matheson avoided specific references to such polarizing issues as religion, gender or politics, he did say: "People have got to be very comfortable and welcome and feel included in our state."
Emphasizing that all sectors of the economy are ultimately interrelated, Matheson noted that improved public education, transportation infrastructure, water and energy development also were critical to long-term economic growth and stability.
"We need to have aggressive, focused and well-coordinated economic development on all fronts," he said. As governor, Matheson added, he would pitch in on "a personal level" to help recruit new businesses and investors.
Planning also must peer into the needs of the coming decades. Finding the billions of dollars needed to upgrade the state's stressed transportation system to keep pace with population growth will be both critical and unavoidable, Matheson warned.
bmims@sltrib.com
