Webb: If Gov. Mike Leavitt runs again in 2004, a small bit of political intrigue will be who ends up as his lieutenant governor running mate. Olene Walker, Leavitt's faithful lieutenant governor since his election in 1992, is expected to retire at end of term next year, no matter what Leavitt does.
If he seeks a fourth term, Leavitt could attempt to hand-select his successor as governor by choosing someone ambitious, capable and young enough to run at the end of his final term in 2006. However, governors usually have a difficult time sharing the limelight and assigning enough substantive, high-profile work to give a lieutenant governor a running start on the next election. Serving as Leavitt's lieutenant governor might not be a lot of fun for someone who is aggressive, ambitious and wants to make a name in his or her own right. It's more likely that Leavitt would find someone like Walker, someone content to be lieutenant governor for a term and then exit when Leavitt does.
It will be very interesting to watch the lieutenant governor maneuverings as the Republican nomination battle heats up. Selecting a running mate will be a major decision for serious candidates like Marty Stephens, Nolan Karras, Jon Huntsman, Jr., Fred Lampropoulos, Lane Beattie, Gary Herbert and others.
Candidates essentially have two choices. They can select a running mate in advance of the state convention, preferably someone who balances their ticket in some meaningful way. That means someone of the opposite sex, someone from a different region of the state, someone more conservative or moderate. Someone, in other words, who would attract support that the candidate, on his own, might not get.
The other alternative is to wait right up to the convention and select a running mate from among the second-tier gubernatorial or congressional candidates, someone who doesn't have much chance of getting out of convention but who, nonetheless, has a slate of delegates to bring to the ticket.
Given the number of candidates in the race and the importance of getting out of convention, it will be tempting for top-tier candidates to wait until close to the convention and try to persuade a competitor to join the ticket. In fact, if someone really wants to be lieutenant governor, the best way to seek the office is to run for governor and come to the convention with a slate of delegates ready to deliver.
In the long run, selecting a lieutenant governor to win more delegates probably isn't the best way to make the choice. A selection made to win at convention may not be the best selection for the primary or final elections. Such a ticket might easily consist of two very similar people or two people from the same geographic area who may not appeal to a broader cross-section of voters as the campaign progresses.
But it's hard to worry about the general election when the imminent battle is to get out of convention.
A number of people interested in the governorship could be attractive lieutenant governors, including Dale Murphy, Lewis Billings, Gary Herbert, David Jordan and Lane Beattie. None of them will likely say they're interested, at least not at this point. It's likely that John Swallow, if he doesn't run again in the 2nd Congressional district, would be a good lieutenant governor prospect.
After Walker's service as the first female lieutenant governor, a lot of interest will be focused on women as running mates. Watch for Sheri Dew's name to be mentioned prominently.
On the Democratic side it's a no-brainer, of course. You have the dream ticket of Matheson and Matheson, first brother-brother team to run a statehouse. Scott and Jim would have to fight over who gets to be governor and who gets to be lieutenant governor, but as brothers they're probably used to fighting. Maybe they could switch halfway through. The Democrats would be sacrificing a congressional seat for this dream ticket, of course, but think of the fun.
Gary Herbert, a longtime Utah County commissioner, plans to make a serious run at the governorship. And he brings a base of support — Utah's local government leaders. He believes he can arrive at the state convention with a solid slate of delegates, and he's also been reasonably successful raising money.
I had breakfast recently with Herbert and Davis County Commissioner Dannie McConkie, who is helping lead the Herbert campaign. They argue passionately that Utah's local governments, despite being closest to the people, have for too long been ignored and harmed, and it's time Utah had a governor who appreciates their role and will be a partner with them.
Herbert has been in office since 1990 and is one of Utah's senior local government leaders. He has a good grasp of the issues, is president of the Utah Association of Counties, and is also working to gain the support of mayors and city council members across the state.
He can rattle off half a dozen important issues where he believes the state and, particularly, the Legislature, have treated local governments poorly.
There are more than 300 elected county leaders across the state, and another couple of thousand city leaders. Most people don't get up in the morning worrying about their local governments, but Herbert could have an impact if he can really mobilize his peers at the local level.
Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. He now is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lavarrwebb@msn.com. Democrat Ted Wilson, former Salt Lake mayor, directs the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. Wilson did not contribute to this week's column. E-mail: tednews@hotmail.com.