Walker bids farewell
But outgoing governor vows to stay involved, notes accomplishments
"We have worked hard on initiatives that will leave footprints for the future — from Snowville to St. George, and from Wendover to Moab," the governor said during an eight-minute speech delivered from the library of the Governor's Mansion.
Walker thanked those who have worked with her since she stepped into the state's top spot in 2003, when former Gov. Mike Leavitt resigned to join the Bush administration. She had served nearly three terms as Leavitt's lieutenant governor.
The governor also offered some advice to her successor, Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman Jr. who will be inaugurated Monday, Jan. 3. Speaking of the state's surprisingly strong economic recovery, Walker warned that Utahns cannot become complacent.
"We must recognize that quality jobs are only possible with outstanding education systems. The two will always go hand in hand together," she said, calling for basic skills programs for children to be continued and that state's universities and colleges to be strengthened.
Her defeat did not come up in her speech, or in her comments to reporters afterward. "You have to move on," she said when asked why. Walker told reporters she has yet to decide what she'll do after leaving office but that she's "going to be involved in some way."
She also offered a long list of projects that will serve as a legacy to her term, including a program established to make sure children can read by grade 3 and, possibly, her proposed tax reform plan that is intended to strengthen the state's revenue base.
But there were also areas where Walker told reporters she wished she could do more.
"There are some things I really would have liked to have gotten done," the governor said, citing starting work on the controversial Legacy Highway and resolving the dispute over a proposal by the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes to store nuclear fuel rods on tribal lands.
Tackling issues during her brief term was important to her, Walker said, to pave the way for future women gubernatorial candidates. "I could easily have been a caretaker," she told reporters, but that would have hurt other women seeking the office.
Her speech, given while standing behind a desk wearing a bright red dress, also touched on her memories in office such as giving encouragement to Utah National Guard troops as they were being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Serving as governor, as lieutenant governor and as a legislator has brought her "to the realization that here in Utah, because of our foundation of integrity, hard work, perseverance, fiscal prudence and vision, we can solve any problem."
E-mail: lisa@desnews.com
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