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News Release
November 3, 2003

Contacts: Natalie Gochnour, (801) 538-1503
Kort Utley, (801) 538-1053

Leavitt Expresses Gratitude and Satisfaction in Farewell Address
Leaves behind “three keys” essential to future prosperity

In the presence of 300 invited guests and before a statewide television audience, Gov. Mike Leavitt thanked the First Lady, his staff, Cabinet and people of Utah for receiving his leadership over the past 11 years in such an affirming way. The farewell address sets the stage for a transition ceremony Wednesday morning where Gov. Leavitt will sign a document of resignation and Lt. Gov. Olene S. Walker will be sworn in as Utah’s 15th governor.

“The human soul has capacity to feel things that cannot be adequately expressed in words,” said Gov. Leavitt in his final speech as Utah’s 14th governor. “In is my great hope that, by that power, you can know the depth of the gratitude I feel.”

Leavitt reflected upon three personal goals of his service and the satisfaction he feels knowing that all three have been accomplished. The governor spoke of leaving the state better than he found it, planting seeds for a future generation and giving the state everything he has.

Among the many accomplishments of Leavitt’s nearly 11 years of service are the following:

• Quality Education – He was a guardian and friend of public education. Utah students attend schools that are better funded, more accountable and tech smart. Class sizes are smaller, teachers are better paid and parents have more choice.

• Improved Infrastructure – Interstate 15, the backbone of the state’s highway infrastructure, was rebuilt ahead of schedule and under budget. Significant investments have also been made in commuter rail and water infrastructure.

• Online government – State government unleashed the power of online services by offering over 100 services online, not in line. These efforts were recently recognized when the state’s website, utah.gov, received “Best of Web” honors from the Center for Digital Government.

• Superior Management – Six times during Leavitt’s administration the state was ranked among the best managed states by independent analysts. Most recently, Utah was pegged as the best fiscally-managed state in the nation by USA Today.

• Environment – Utah meets all federal air quality standards. This was not the case at the beginning of the Leavitt Administration. Utah’s most environmentally-sensitive lands are better cared for because of land exchanges that protected 500,000 acres of land in national parks, monuments, recreation areas and wilderness study areas, and state efforts to conserve 35,000 acres of critical land protecting wildlife, watershed and cultural assets in the state.

• Healthier and safer population – Over 400,000 more Utahns have health insurance since Leavitt started his service. Health care costs are among the most affordable in the nation and crime rates are down 21% during the Leavitt years.

• Stronger families – Utah’s welfare system has been transformed to focus on self-reliance. The number of case workers has doubled and welfare caseloads have declined 30%. Utah was the first state in the nation to create a foundation to help recruit, train and support foster parents.

“Over the past eleven years our state has become a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Leavitt. “I leave knowing plans are in place for an even brighter future.”

Leavitt highlighted three keys to Utah’s continued prosperity. They are a investing in a quality workforce, embracing Utah’s changing demographics and moving toward balance. As a symbolic gesture, Leavitt held up three keys he is leaving in the new governor’s desk as a reminder of these principles.

The farewell address concluded with a now-familiar story about his grandfather and a John Deere tractor. “Real and right. It’s what we teach our children. It’s the way I’ve tried to govern this state, and it’s my fondest wish for America.”

Leavitt will be sworn in Thursday, November 6, 2003 by Pres. George W. Bush as administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.