By David Hinckley
Provo resident and BYU alumn Michael Mower may hold the key to Jon Huntsman''s success when the governor-elect takes office in January.
Impressed with Mower''s lobbying and public relations skills, Huntsman is plucking the city''s community and government relations director up to the state level. Starting in January, Mower will act as Huntsman''s liaison to the legislature and his director of constituent affairs.
Particularly in his role with the legislature, Mower will play a unique role in helping the new governor succeed. According to Robert Goss, visiting professor of political science at BYU, the governor''s legislative liaison is key to informing legislators of the content, purpose and effects of a governor''s policies, and to rallying support for them.
'You want people to respect you, whether or not they differ in opinion,' he said. 'You need to be able to communicate and properly explain tenets and reasons behind policies. needs to call upon all his negotiating skills to be successful.'
The role will be especially crucial as Mower represents a freshman governor with economic proposals legislators have been shy to embrace.
But when Mower approaches the legislature next year to lobby for Huntsman''s policies, he will find friends he has built relationships with for years. Lobbying for policies has been one of his chief responsibilities in Provo.
For example, Wayne Parker, Provo''s chief administrative officer, said Mower worked tirelessly last year to defend against an attack on fiber optics project I-Provo. Parker said Mower brokered deals and worked with legislators until the challenge was defeated.
'He''s well respected in the state,' Parker said, adding that the appointment by Huntsman didn''t come as a great surprise.
State Rep. Stephen Clark, Provo-R, agreed.
'I would guess that Huntsman had him in his crosshairs from the beginning,' he said. 'He''s one of those men that is rare and hard to come by.'
Huntsman''s Chief of Staff Jason Chaffetz hailed Mower''s respect from members of both parties.
Mower himself expressed confidence about the upcoming session. He said in addition to the Provo legislators, he has maintained good relations with delegates from his native Emory County. He also said the administration had support from Republican Party leaders.
In addition to elucidating Huntsman''s policies in the legislature, he will also work with the general public as director of constituent affairs, a separate job in the present administration. Mower said Huntsman will give him a small staff to help with these responsibilities.
This part of the job will also build on strengths Mower has developed. In Provo, Parker said Mower manages most of the city''s public outreach, works with the city''s Web sites and organizes special events.
Although excited about the new prospects, Mower said he has 'mixed emotions' about leaving Provo. In addition to being heavily involved in community affairs, he also shared with the community the loss of his wife to cancer, a battle that was featured in the Deseret News.
Parker said Provo will issue a job announcement shortly to start the process of finding Mower''s replacement.