Alexander, whose sometimes prickly style nettled some in the Republican caucus, was expected to be challenged for the No. 2 leadership spot in the Utah House.

Tuesday's announcement puts that post up for grabs.

Alexander said his resignation after 16 years in the Legislature - effective after the election - will give time to Provo delegates in his District 62 to pick his replacement.

"It's now left up to the delegates, not just the voters, so I can help the governor in this advisory position," Alexander said. "It was too big of a conflict to stay in the House and do this as well."

Alexander's new duties will be to act as a liaison among state government, the Utah business community and businesses desiring to relocate to Utah.

The announcement Tuesday came too late to change the ballot, but it will certainly shake things up in the internal House leadership race scheduled Nov. 10.

Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, who announced in May that he would run for majority leader, said he was surprised by Alexander's decision and its timing.

He explained his own reasons for running by saying, "I think you can have strong leadership in the Legislature and do it with decorum and in a statesmanlike manner."

House Majority Whip Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, may also run for House Majority Leader. Urquhart and Clark talked briefly on Tuesday and planned to get together to discuss the leadership race in the next few weeks, Clark said.

Other lawmakers said House members would be unlikely to elect Washington County representatives to two of the top three leadership spots. Clark said such an outcome was possible, but acknowledged it would be "unusual."

Urquhart, who is on vacation with his family, did not return a call.

West Jordan Republican Rep. Steve Mascaro was sometimes on the receiving end of Alexander's verbal smackdowns in GOP caucus meetings

"There's no question that Jeff had his own brand of leadership. Sometimes it was aggressive. And quite frankly, sometimes it might have been offensive," Mascaro said Tuesday. "But it was a hard job. And he did what he thought was necessary to bring consensus on some hard topics.

"He was an arm-twister. And I mean that in the most professionally courteous way. He worked very, very hard to push his point," said Mascaro.

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker described Alexander as "a pretty tough legislator in general. That is kind of his style." He said Alexander was "a real force in the House," who treated Republicans and Democrats equally.

Sen. Curt Bramble, a friend whose Senate District encompasses Alexander's House District, says the prospect of challenges for majority leader played no part in Alexander's decision to step down.

"I don't believe Jeff was forced out. He had some fences to mend but I believe he would have, on Nov. 10, been successful in that leadership race," said Bramble.

"His business is one that needs a hands-on CEO. He had to weigh the huge personal commitment of serving in the Legislature with his business."

His replacement in House Dist. 62 will be decided by GOP delegates who will select one or two candidates. The governor in turn, is obliged to name the candidate who wins 60 percent of the delegates' votes or to decide among two names forwarded to him, said House Speaker Greg Curtis.

"It's not common for candidates to resign shortly after they're elected," said Curtis. "But it's not unheard of."

Alexander said he decided against running for re-election as majority leader "because I would have felt compelled to stay for the full two-year term."

"We have leadership elections at this point," he said. "I wanted to give the House time for people to decide which positions they wanted to run for in leadership."

Alexander said he wanted to stayed involved in state government while spending more time with his company, Print Advantage. What started as a small copy center in Provo has grown into a plant in Lindon employing some 65 people. He also is a board member for the International Printers Network.

"Jeff's 30 years of business success, his outstanding civic service and involvement with many major industry boards, coupled with his years in legislative leadership, make him a great addition and an important component of our economic development strategy, said Jason Perry, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

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* MATT CANHAM and REBECCA WALSH contributed to this report.