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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- One of Utah's trade officials stepped down from his job as Governor Jon Huntsman adopted a policy against staff nepotism.
Layne Palmer resigned from his 60,000-dollar-a-year post heading Huntsman's international trade and diplomacy department. He is the father of Huntsman's executive assistant Jami Palmer.
Palmer's only apparent qualification was managing an auto-parts store in Tremonton, Utah, but Huntsman initially defended him as a campaign volunteer who showed strong organizing skills.
His title had been director of international diplomacy and trade for Utah, but was changed to "hosting associate" reflect lesser duties.
Huntsman says Layne Palmer entered the system honorably and performed well -- but has to go because of the new anti-nepotism policy, for appearances' sake.
Now Palmer is joining Huntsman's privately funded Utah Policy Partnership, an outgrowth of the governor's transition team that is headed by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
