Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. started his first week in office with a glitzy inaugural and capped it off dealing with the mass firing of 33 economic development staffers. In between, he glad-handed with the public, mimicked the Rolling Stones, introduced a new Cabinet, returned a potentially controversial campaign contribution and began a top-level shake-up that earned him cheers and jeers.

"He's obviously gotten off to quite a start," says Quin Monson, a political scientist and assistant director of Brigham Young University's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy.

Huntsman's first week also won him a few labels, ranging from a cold corporate manager to a down-to-earth, friendly guy. The question is, are the first five days a glimpse at the next four years?

Will Huntsman be as accessible? Will his administration be as fast-paced in making future changes? Is his firing style going to be his management style?

"Jon has a great sense of urgency and doesn't want to waste a minute," says his chief of staff, Jason Chaffetz. "Many parts of government aren't used to moving at such a quick pace. But that's Jon's background and that's what we're tasked to do and so that's what we're going to make happen."

And without a moment to spare, apparently.

Personnel changes: Two days into office, Huntsman - whose campaign motto was "A New Day for Utah" - brought in 14 new Cabinet members, replacing several longtime department directors while retaining seven from prior administrations. His biggest change came in the Department of Community and Economic Development, which he plans to split. There, in a meeting Thursday, 33 out of 57 appointed staffers were told their resignations were accepted as their computer access was deleted and a highway patrol trooper stood guard.

To many, that was a dim moment in an otherwise bright week.

"There were lots of peaks and valleys, but that's the nature of the beast and honestly I don't see that smoothing out," Chaffetz said. "I think that's the nature of a very hands-on governor."

Widespread staff changes are common when an administration shifts hands. At the federal level, when a new leader takes over, at-will employees start packing their bags. Shifts in other states bring rampant changes; the volatile, recount-riddled race for governor of Washington state, for example, has state workers on edge, according to the Seattle Times. After all, there are 800 state workers who could lose their jobs.

Utah has nearly 600 at-will employees, who can be fired for no reason.

While the pomp surrounding Huntsman's three-day inauguration events garnered plenty of media attention, the events don't hint at the governor's management style. For that, observers pointed to the staff firings and the change in Cabinet appointees.

"Perhaps a kinder, gentler approach to letting people go would make those [33] people happier," Monson says, "but maybe [Huntsman] thinks this demonstrates to the public that he's serious about [economic development]; he wants to immediately make things happen."

Monson also says Huntsman has made strides - even in a few days - to divest himself of a persona of privilege. The new governor is a product of one of the state's wealthiest families.

"When you get out in your jean jacket and mix with the folks and shake their hands and send out the signal that you're serious about wanting to be open and friendly and hear ideas, you know, I'm willing to buy it for the time being until he demonstrates otherwise," Monson says. "It's been pretty good so far."

Veteran pollster Dan Jones says if he surveyed Utahns now, Huntsman probably would rake in rave reviews so far, and that people expect a new leader to bring in his own people for top-level jobs. And Jones, associate interim director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, says revamping economic development was Huntsman's main campaign promise.

"So one thing that I promise you is he is going to do it his way," Jones says. "He is not being dominated by any particular group or individual. He has the idea that he will do it as the governor in his own way."

Legislature awaits: One thing that is still a big unknown, Jones adds, is how Huntsman will get along with the Legislature, which starts its annual session in a week.

Incoming House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, says Huntsman seems to be diving into his new post with vigor. In his first days in office, he sat down with legislative leadership to chat. "One thing I've sensed is that there is a sincerity that he wants to work with us," Curtis said.

Whether that translates into passing Huntsman's budget or his initiatives remains unknown. "If he maintains that attitude, I think we can find compromise in most things," Curtis says. Former Gov. Norm Bangerter - a Republican who took over as chief executive after five terms with a Democrat in charge - says changes are inevitable, and Huntsman is making a typical transition.

"He's doing fine," Bangerter said. "My philosophy is you don't have to do it the first day, but you can do it the first day. I fired some people the first day. It's fine to make those moves; it's part of the process."

Huntsman also moved quickly - after initial hesitation - to give back $40,000 in campaign donations from a prospective owner of Envirocare, a radioactive waste disposal site in Tooele County. Huntsman had vowed not to take donations from Envirocare or its current owner, Khosrow Semnani.

For sure, Huntsman's first days were mainly spent in traditional, almost mandatory events, such as his inaugural, the first Cabinet meeting and staff huddles. He spent time reviewing a four-inch-thick binder of reports from his transition team and taking questions from a horde of reporters. Observers say there was some, but not much, indication of how the next 207 weeks will go.

Chaffetz, Huntsman's top aide, says the campaign for governor provided a 14-month "rolling start" that Huntsman is now able to kick into gear.

"Now we have the opportunity to implement it," Chaffetz says. "I don't expect the pace to slow down - at all."

tburr@sltrib.com