Governor Michael O. Leavitt

Governor
Utah

Michael 0. Leavitt has been governor of Utah since January 1993. He has led the state in an era of unprecedented economic prosperity. He has shown leadership on critical issues, including preserving Utah's quality of life during a time of rapid growth, as well as creating better schools, fighting crime, redefining the relationship between states and federal governments, and taking advantage of the tools of advanced technology.

The state's growth challenges were crystallized in the governor's Growth Summit, which generated statewide attention and involvement to improve transportation, preserve open space, and develop and conserve water. The state is now undertaking an unprecedented 10-year, $3.6 billion, statewide road building initiative.

The governor's education initiatives include Centennial Schools, which return power to parents and teachers at local schools; Highly Impacted Schools, which provide special assistance to disadvantaged children; and class size reduction. He is working with other governors to establish the Western Governors University, which will provide students more choice and flexibility, and broader access to college through technology.

Federal-state relations have been brought to the top of the national agenda through the governor's leadership. A national Federalism Summit addressed options for restoring a balance of power so that states and the federal government can operate more effectively.

In technology, the governor has launched a SmartStates initiative, which is focused on developing public-private partnerships to deliver state services through electronic commerce. He has shown leadership in attracting and nurturing high technology companies and encouraging commerce in the private sector.

The governor has held regional and national leadership roles among governors. He is a past chair of the Republican Governors Association and the Western Governors' Association and the past president of the Council of State Governments. He currently sits on the executive committee of the National Governors' Association and the Republican Governors Association. He has received numerous awards, including the American Medical Association's Nathan Davis Award, which recognized him as the public official of the year for his efforts to improve health care in Utah. He has been called on regularly by the president and congressional leaders to help resolve federal issues that directly affect the states.

Utah has received national and international recognition during the governor's term, including being named as the site for the 2002 Winter Olympics and being named the best state to locate a business, best managed state and most livable state in America.