Agency Histories

Jon Meade Huntsman Jr. was the republican Governor of Utah January 3, 2005-August 11, 2009. He resigned early in order to accept the position as Ambassador to China 2009-2011. Most of his political life has been as an ambassador to three different countries. He was first Ambassador to Singapore 1992-1993, then a quick break as Governor of Utah, then Ambassador to China, and finally Ambassador to Russia 2017-2019. Huntsman was born on March 26, 1960 in Redwood City, CA. He dropped out of highschool to join a band. However, he soon left the band and got his GED and went to the University of Utah and the University of Pennsylvania where he got a BA in international politics 1987. He also chose to serve a proselytizing mission to Taiwan for his church. In between schools, he married Mary Kaye Cooper 1983. Huntsman became the CEO for the family business, the Huntsman Corporation, and served as the Chairman for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation 1993-2001. While serving as Governor, Huntsman changed the variable income tax to a flat tax of 5%. He also cut the sales tax. He was involved with the Western Climate Initiative 2007, which attempted to reduce greenhouse gasses. He passed the Parent Choice Education Act 2007 which was meant to help parents send their children to private school. He started the driving privilege cards 2005 to allow illegal immigrants to drive in Utah. He was a big supporter of the DREAM Act, which is meant to help children who had been brought to the US illegally to become citizens. As of 2023, Huntsman is still living.