Gary Herbert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gary Herbert
Herbert in 2019
17th Governor of Utah
In office August 11, 2009 – January 4, 2021
Lieutenant	Greg Bell (2009–2013) Spencer Cox (2013–2021)
Preceded by	Jon Huntsman Jr.
Succeeded by	Spencer Cox
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office July 25, 2015 – July 17, 2016
Deputy	Terry McAuliffe
Preceded by	John Hickenlooper
Succeeded by	Terry McAuliffe
6th Lieutenant Governor of Utah
In office January 3, 2005 – August 11, 2009
Governor	Jon Huntsman Jr.
Preceded by	Gayle McKeachnie
Succeeded by	Greg Bell
Member of the Utah County Commission
In office 1990–2004
Preceded by	Brent Morris
Succeeded by	Larry Ellertson
Personal details
Born	Gary Richard Peters (1947-05-07) May 7, 1947 (age 78) American Fork, Utah, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jeanette Snelson
Children	6
Education	Brigham Young University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Staff sergeant
Unit	Utah Army National Guard

Gary Richard Herbert (born May 7, 1947) is an American politician who was the 17th governor of Utah, serving from 2009 to 2021. As a member of the Republican Party, he was also the leader of the National Governors Association for one year.

Herbert's political career began in 1990 when he was appointed to the Utah County Commission, where he served for 14 years. In 2004, he ran for governor but later joined Jon Huntsman, Jr.'s campaign as his running mate. They won the election, and Herbert became the sixth lieutenant governor of Utah.

He became governor on August 11, 2009, after Governor Huntsman left to become the U.S. Ambassador to China. Herbert won a special election in 2010 to finish the term. He was then elected to a full term in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. After serving for over 11 years, he did not run for re-election in 2020. He is the second longest-serving governor in Utah's history.

Early Life and Education

Gary Herbert was born in American Fork, Utah. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was adopted by his stepfather, Duane Barlow Herbert. He grew up in Orem, Utah, and graduated from Orem High School.

After high school, he served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later attended Brigham Young University but did not graduate. Herbert is married to Jeanette Snelson Herbert, and they have six children.

Before his political career, Herbert served for six years in the Utah Army National Guard, where he became a staff sergeant. He later started his own real estate company. He was also the president of the Utah Association of Counties and the Utah Association of Realtors.

Political Career

Herbert greets President Donald Trump in December 2017

Utah County Commission

From 1990 to 2004, Herbert was a commissioner for Utah County. A commissioner is an elected official who helps run the county government, similar to a city council member but for a larger area.

Becoming Lieutenant Governor

In 2004, Herbert decided to run for governor. During the campaign, he teamed up with another Republican candidate, Jon Huntsman, Jr., to be his running mate. A running mate is a person who runs for a high office, like lieutenant governor, alongside a candidate for a top office, like governor. The Huntsman-Herbert team won the election, and Herbert became the lieutenant governor of Utah in 2005.

As lieutenant governor, Herbert was in charge of the state's elections. In 2008, Huntsman and Herbert were easily re-elected, winning with 77 percent of the vote.

Governor of Utah

Herbert became the governor of Utah in August 2009 when Governor Huntsman resigned. He then had to run in a special election in 2010 to keep the job. He won with 64% of the vote.

Herbert won a full four-year term as governor in the 2012 election and was re-elected for a second full term in the 2016 election. One important law he signed was the Utah Transfer of Public Lands Act in 2012.

From 2015 to 2016, he was the chairman of the National Governors Association, a group made up of the governors from all 50 states.

Key Political Positions

As governor, Herbert had to make decisions on many important issues. Here are some of his key positions.

The Economy

Herbert believed that the best way to help the economy and create jobs was to have low taxes and limited government spending. He said this approach created a friendly environment for businesses to invest and grow.

Education

Education was one of Herbert's top priorities. He believed that Utah needed a strong public education system to help its citizens succeed. He supported finding and keeping the best teachers in Utah's schools.

In 2012, he vetoed a bill about health education in schools. A veto is when a governor rejects a bill passed by the legislature. Herbert said the bill went too far because it limited the choices parents had about their children's education.

LGBT Rights

Over time, Herbert's position on LGBT rights changed. In 2009, he said he did not support making sexual orientation a legally protected class.

However, in 2015, he signed a historic law that made it illegal to discriminate against people in housing and employment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This made Utah the 19th state to pass such a law. In 2020, he also signed an order to ban conversion therapy for minors in the state.

Gun Rights

Herbert is a supporter of the right to own firearms. In 2010, he signed a bill that protected the right of Utah companies to make and sell guns within the state. However, in 2013, he vetoed a bill that would have allowed people to carry a handgun without a permit.

Media Appearances

• Herbert made a brief appearance in the movie Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.
• He also appeared on the History Channel show "The Secrets of Skinwalker Ranch" to talk about his interest in Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs).
• He made a surprise appearance on a small YouTube channel called “Cousins Elite,” where he performed trick shots.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Gary Herbert para niños