Did would-be Huntsman aide yield to critics?
The first Hispanic woman tapped to hold a Cabinet post said she has turned down Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s offer because she wanted to spend more time with her elderly mother, daughter and new husband.
But some say Haro's decision was influenced by concerns among minority leaders that she isn't professionally qualified and by knowing people were upset that Huntsman had decided to replace the previous director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs.
As head of the department of community and arts in the new governor's administration, Haro would have overseen the state's ethnic affairs offices.
Haro denied those claims, stating that her decision was strictly family-related. When her daughter asked her if the appointment meant she'd have less time to spend with her, Haro said, "It made me cry. It is a 24-hour job . . . My current family commitments are not going to allow me at this time to serve the citizens of Utah," Haro said.
Huntsman, who announced Haro's appointment Jan. 5 , had nothing but praise for her on Thursday. He noted that Haro had been reluctant about shifting from the private to the public sector.
"She had a very good private sector job with Zions Bank. She has a child, a new marriage and a mother who is quite ill," Huntsman said. "I just have to respect her desire to want to manage all of those as a private citizen."
Huntsman remained mum on who might replace Haro, saying only that an announcement would likely be made in the next day or two and that he still intends to have a Hispanic in his Cabinet.
Some Hispanic leaders had said Haro's departure could be a blow to the community, especially if she's replaced by a non-minority.
Frank Cordova, executive director of Utah Coalition of La Raza, said "people just feel left out" of the selection process they're used to being part of. He said there was sufficient community outcry that he was trying to schedule a community meeting with Huntsman so the new governor could explain the changes.
"A lot of community people just didn't know her," he said of Haro. He said they also blamed Haro for the removal of the directors of the Hispanic, Pacific Islander and Black affairs offices.
"She was not part of that stuff," Cordova said.
But Huntsman said Haro did have a say in the make-up of the department. When asked whether bad feelings resulting from the changes had anything to do with Haro's departure, Huntsman replied, "Oh, no. She was very much a part of all those decisions."
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