PARK CITY -- On Friday, Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt officially endorsed Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination.
On Saturday, six Republican governors officially endorsed Leavitt's third run for governor at the Utah Sports Park, where the governors raced against each other in bobsleds."The election of Mike Leavitt to be governor of Utah is not simply of importance to Utah; he has national importance," said Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
"I'm confident that I have never been better prepared to do public service as I am now," said Leavitt, who added he wants to further improve education, see through the Olympics and highway construction, and preserve the "quality of life here."
Governors from North Dakota, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee and Idaho, as well as about 50 business leaders of various industries across the United States met in Utah this weekend for the first of six Republican Governors Association forums planned for 2000. The purpose of the forums is to exchange ideas and discuss current issues facing the states.
"It was more of an information-gathering (session), not deciding any solutions," said Ed Schafer, North Dakota governor and chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
Though Bush was spoken of as highly by the group as was Leavitt, the Texas Republican was not present. "He would have been welcomed, but he was campaigning all over the country," said Vicki Varela, a spokeswoman for Leavitt's office and Mountain States regional chairwoman for Bush's presidential campaign. "We knew he'd have campaign pressure that would (prevent getting) him in a bobsled."
Now -- with Leavitt on board -- six of the seven Republican governors in Utah this weekend wear Bush's official navy blue baseball cap. New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is in the Steve Forbes camp.
"I know him well," Leavitt said of Bush. "I have confidence in his ability and his heart."
Utah was the place chosen for the forum to draw attention to the approaching 2002 Olympic Games as well as Leavitt's campaign, which will officially begin in March.
Leavitt is one of two incumbent Republicans running for governor this election cycle, Schafer said. The other is West Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood.
"It's been a great showcase of Utah because it lets people know how important the West is. And the West has a lot to offer," said Jackie Leavitt, Utah's first lady and hostess for weekend gathering.
The Republican governors and business leaders discussed taxes, business regulation, education and states' rights -- particularly hot topics such as Internet sales taxes, standardized business regulation and private-school vouchers.
The bobsleds were designed by high school students from the Granite School District. Leavitt came in fourth place. All the governors were paired with members of the U.S. Junior Bobsled Team.