Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. essentially bade farewell to Utah and its residents Monday while introducing them to their next state leader, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, who will immediately start to take on a much higher public profile.

"Let me just thank our citizens for their many kindnesses toward our family" and for "allowing our family the honor of service," Huntsman, President Barack Obama's nominee as U.S. ambassador to China, said in a Capitol news conference .

It is likely to be the last Utahns hear from the governor for weeks. He declined to take reporters' questions and said he will continue to do so during the "sensitive" Senate confirmation process ahead.

Herbert, a self-described traditional Republican, says the differences between him and the more moderate Huntsman have been overplayed. "On the core issues we are in lock step."

He said he will leave Huntsman's team intact and will continue the current administration's primary focus on economic development and fiscal responsibility.

"Our priorities remain the same," Herbert said. "I've asked all the Cabinet members to stay on. There's not going to be any big shake-up or big changes. We're not going to veer to the left or right."

But on the high-profile issue of gay rights, Herbert signaled a swing to the right.

He said he opposed civil unions for gays and strongly supported Amendment 3, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. He also said he has not been involved in any discussion on the Common Ground Initiative, which would have granted basic rights such as hospital visits and inheritance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

"I supported Amendment 3, and I'll just leave it at that," he said.

Huntsman, by contrast, had endorsed civil unions and backed the other parts of the Common Ground Initiative.

Herbert served as a Utah County commissioner for 14 years, and ran for governor in 2004 before signing on to Huntsman's ticket just before the Republican State Convention.

While he still lives in one of the most conservative counties in the state -- he and his wife Jeanette will move to the governor's mansion, but plan to keep their Orem home as a retreat -- he called himself a consensus-builder. Herbert says he is open to having conversations with people who have views different from his own.

Huntsman spoke highly of Herbert's dedication and sense of political duty.

"I feel very good about the decision that we have made, and part of that reason is because of a very strong lieutenant governor."

Huntsman said his top priority is a smooth transition so that when a formal handoff of power happens -- no one can say when -- it will be an afterthought to most Utahns.

"I will remain governor and aid Gary in every possible way to ensure that we have a smooth transition in the days and weeks ahead," Huntsman vowed.

Herbert said he intends to run for election in his own right next year, but shrugged off questions about whether he will campaign on a more conservative platform than when he ran in tandem with Huntsman.

"I'm going to concentrate very laser-like on being the best governor in 2009 to turn the economy around, to have the ability to withstand the growth of our education [system], our infrastructure, our roads and all those things that go into governing," he said. "And if I do that, I'm confident that the political ramifications in 2010 will take care of themselves."

smcfarland@sltrib.com