I don’t know too much about Bangerter beyond some general facts. He was a pretty committed Mormon, however, and was serving on a South Africa mission for several years back in the late ‘90s when I wrote his office. Curiously, when he was elected in 1984, there hadn’t been a Republican elected Governor since 1960 (he succeeded Scott Matheson, who chose not to seek a 3rd term, which he probably could’ve easily won). Like Herbert, he had risen up from the state legislature (he was the House Speaker when elected Governor).
Barone remarked in the 1986 Almanac of American Politics that most of Utah’s best and brightest in the GOP (or most able, as he put it) tended not to run for Governor. They ran “nice guys” who weren’t looking to be bold leaders but servants. From what I gleaned on Bangerter, he was more interested with the nuts and bolts of specific policy (such as education). Whether any Utahns FReepers have any other particular insights into his two terms, I’d yield to them.
Still, it is appalling that a state like Utah has elected such disappointments over the past 2 decades (Leavitt, Huntsman & Herbert, with Huntsman being a fraud and phony to equal Slick Willard).
It’s disgusting, it seems many states are like the Presidency, good Governors are few are far between.
There is no excuse in Utah.
Or Texas!! I talking to you Perry lovers! The governorships are crucial. It’s time to take out the trash.