"This particular governor comes from a background of diplomacy and that is the style of leadership that has emerged during his administration," said Senate President John Valentine.

Huntsman met regularly with legislative leaders during the 45-day session, the Orem Republican said. "I've spent a significant amount of time with him and his staff on half a dozen bills he was considering vetoing or not signing."

At least as far back as 1990 when Norm Bangerter was governor, no session has ended without at least one veto. Usually, the governor - from Bangerter through Mike Leavitt and Olene Walker - vetoed several. Huntsman, himself, exercised his veto power twice in his first session and four times last year.

"He is ever the diplomat - that's his style," says Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower. "Clear and convincing messages were sent early on on potentially troubling legislation. Those items were addressed [by lawmakers]."

In the House, Speaker Greg Curtis agrees that Huntsman, a former U.S. trade ambassador, has a different style. "He is quiet, not boisterous or flamboyant. But he works very methodically, getting things he wants accomplished."

But not everyone sees Huntsman's milestone no-veto season as an example of reason and diplomacy triumphing over crass politics. Rep. Jackie Biskupski says Huntsman is preparing for his re-election in a right-leaning state. Bills from the far right, including restrictions on teachers discussing medication and anti-gay legislation, were somehow more palatable this year.

"We were working with a very different governor this year," the Salt Lake City Democrat says. "Issues that he was drawing a hard line on last year - he just wasn't going to this year."

She referred to the gay-straight high school clubs bill in particular. Last year, Huntsman threatened to veto a similar bill, that puts restrictions on so-called gay-straight alliances, but this month signed a version that Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, sponsored.

Biskupski, a lesbian, and other lawmakers opposed the bill that they feel feeds homophobia and wanted the governor to at least refuse to sign it. "It appears very political in nature. He's trying to keep the right wing happy. He's moved to the right this year. He's got a reelection coming up."

Mower says the bill Huntsman signed was very different from the one he earlier vowed to veto.

Huntsman neither signed nor vetoed a controversial bill that reduces his power to block additional nuclear waste coming into Utah. By not signing the so-called EnergySolutions bill Feb. 27, it became law. But Huntsman threatened to seek a cap on waste through an interstate organization that oversees the flow of low-level radioactive waste.

The strategy apparently worked and EnergySolutions agreed to abandon a pending application to increase the size of its waste pile at its Tooele County landfill.

"He was very skilled," says the bill's sponsor Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. "He didn't alienate the Legislature. He didn't kill the industry. But he made it clear he is the chief executive officer of the state."

But Biskupski, who saw the bill as pivotal in keeping additional nuclear waste out of Utah, is not so sure. "The man made a promise that he didn't appear to be keeping. The deal-brokering, after the bill was not signed, was a kind of diving-catch save," she says. "It's a deal, that's all it is. It's not a law. Deals can be broken."

None of the lawmakers saw the lack of vetoes as a sign that the balance of power between the branches of government has somehow tilted.

"If it happened every year, year after year, there might be some issues," Curtis says. "This year there was a concentrated effort to work together between the House and Senate and governor's office."