And the people pay for it.

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert put 42,000 miles on his Chevy Suburban last year and he is on track to do it again this year, making him by far Utah's most traveled statewide elected official. His annual gas bill tops $5,000.

The Tribune looked at the cost of gas for Utah's constitutional officers, including Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (and first lady Mary Kaye), Herbert, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Auditor Auston Johnson and Treasurer Ed Alter.

Huntsman recently converted his state-provided Suburban to run on natural gas, saying he did it "as a protest against high oil prices and in support of energy independence."

So far no other executive has followed suit, though Herbert said he plans to trade in his SUV and the $70 gas bills for a smaller and more efficient hybrid in 2008. That's when his Suburban will be swapped out by state fleet managers.

"I will get a hybrid myself," Herbert said. "One, to experience it and two, to lead by example."

The state has moved away from natural gas vehicles and under Huntsman's direction is now in the process of buying more hybrids. The state fleet has 7,500 vehicles, only 10 of which are hybrids. Nine are used by a variety of state employees. The 10th was handed over to Health Department Executive Director David Sundwall at his request.

For now, Herbert will stick with his Suburban and he won't slow down, either. He is proud of his frequent stops around the state. He says it is an example of an administration that is meeting with the people. Huntsman has asked him to take the lead on rural affairs, public lands and water issues, which regularly takes him off the Wasatch Front. Herbert also lives in Orem and commutes to the Capitol.

"I do get around the state a lot," he said.

Alter, the treasurer, is the only constitutional officer who takes his state vehicle on vacation outside of the state, which is legal but also criticized by others such as Huntsman and Shurtleff.

These executives are provided a vehicle - all have SUVs - they can use for professional or personal needs. They also are given a gas card.

Alter filled up his Ford Explorer three times in Idaho last year and four times in Star Valley, Wyo.

He declined to comment, but has previously said his vehicle "is in lieu of salary."

"Another way to do it is to pay me a car allowance or an extra salary," he said in 2005, a year in which he spent more than $500 fueling outside of Utah's borders.

Alter now makes more than $100,000 annually after receiving a $20,000 pay increase from the Legislature this year.

Huntsman said he would not charge the state for any similar trip.

"When you are on vacation that is an altogether different use of the car," he said. "That is your time and your prerogative and as such it should be personally funded."

Shurtleff has also previously criticized charging the state for gas used on a trip.

"To me that is not right," he said.

Shurtleff puts the second highest amount of miles on his vehicle after Herbert, but gets the best gas mileage in his 2005 Dodge Durango.

After Huntsman converted his car to natural gas, the cost to fuel it is regularly lower than his frequent car washes.

So far this year, the governor's security staff has spent more than $400 washing his vehicle, on average, more than once a week.

mcanham@sltrib.com