Washington » Utah's governor in waiting dropped into the nation's capital this week but is leaving without a presidential appointment.
In fact, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert is steering clear of the White House during his first trip to Washington as the heir to the governor's office.
Herbert will take over as Utah's chief executive when the Senate confirms President Obama's nomination of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to be U.S. ambassador to China. The lieutenant governor spent several days in the capital in meetings as an adviser to the federal Election Assistance Commission.
But the former Utah County commissioner also met with members of the state's federal delegation and vowed to return often to lobby for the state's interests. And he made one thing clear: while he doesn't approve of the massive federal stimulus package, he isn't going to turn away any money when he takes office.
"I won't give it back," he said during an interview Wednesday with The Tribune . "I'm no fan of the stimulus but I'm no dummy either."
Herbert, with a new security detail in tow, said he has yet to interview anyone as his possible successor to the lieutenant governor's spot and joked that while he should be narrowing down his list, it always ends up expanding.
Asked how he may differ from Huntsman, who enjoys a sky-high approval rating in the state, Herbert said he's not calculating ways to change the state's governance.
"I don't really have any plan to differentiate myself from Huntsman," Herbert said. But, he added, "I am who I am," and others may notice he has a different style.
The Utah County resident does plan to move into the governor's mansion on Salt Lake City's South Temple Street when he takes office.
"Functionally, it becomes difficult to govern if you're not right there next to the Capitol," Herbert said.
The lieutenant governor did get a consolation prize during his Washington trek: campaign cash from the city's moneymen and lobbyists during a Tuesday fund-raiser.
