He wants a piece of the action and a staff capable of responding to any issue at any time.
And Herbert has reinvented the Lieutenant Governor's Office accordingly.
"We make no bones that we want to do more with the same," he said. While the number of employees remains at 10 - the same as under his immediate predecessor - the budget for the lieutenant governor's staff has risen by $50,000. Most of the increase has gone to a new chief-of-staff-style adviser who helps Herbert handle his expanded duties.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has handed over a list of issues to his running mate, including transportation, rural affairs and water.
These policy areas are on top of Herbert's statutory responsibilities as the state's chief elections officer and document authenticator.
Herbert says his office has "morphed. We are raising the level of involvement in the administration more than just a ribbon-cutting affair."
To do so, Herbert has squeezed more work out of his elections office staff. The elections office used to have six employees devoted to election-related issues, but now only has five full-time workers with split duties. Herbert turned the other position into the head adviser post held by Joseph Demma, who is making $50,000.
And the remaining elections employees work on issues such as the recently completed transportation summit when called upon by Herbert.
"We all work for the lieutenant governor and we work on the things he needs us to work on," said Elections Director Michael Cragun.
Former Elections Director Amy Naccarato seemed surprised by Herbert's reassignment of elections staff, especially with a new touch-screen voting system coming online.
"We were never at a loss for things to do," said Naccarato, who now works in the Colorado state election office. "Most states are increasing their staff right now."
Naccarato said Utah's elections office had anticipated hiring a couple more staffers to ease the transition to the new system. Cragun said Herbert has no plans to add any staff.
"We have certainly had a lot on our plates over the last year," he said. "But we are getting the things done that the lieutenant governor is asking us to do."
mcanham@sltrib.com
