This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Alan Matheson Jr. is Gov. Gary Herbert's new senior environmental adviser.
Now the executive director of the statewide planning group, Envision Utah, Matheson fills the vacancy left by Ted Wilson.
Herbert called Matheson's record "undisputed" and his expertise "unparalleled."
"With his solid experience on a variety of difficult issues and his no-nonsense focus on the facts," said the governor, "Alan brings an ideal sense of balance and an ability to build consensus … He is a great fit."
In a news release provided by Herbert's office, Matheson said: "I'm driven to provide a bright future for our children, where they can get a great job and enjoy Utah's stunning landscapes, addressing differences with respect and good will. I look forward to working with all interests in Utah to help us create that future."
During the past seven years that Matheson led Envision Utah, he has helped communities tackle development and natural resource challenges with science, the economy and public values in mind, Herbert's office said. He has organized and managed stakeholder groups, facilitated broad public involvement and helped bring divided communities together to solve controversial and complex challenges.
Environmental advocates also weighed in on Matheson's appointment.
Lynn de Freitas, director of Friends of the Great Salt Lake, called Matheson "a terrific pick."
Certainly he works well with a broad spectrum of community interests," she said.
David Livermore, director of the Nature Conservancy in Utah, also applauded Herbert's choice. "He's a terrific person and perfect for the job."
Robert Grow, the current chairman of Envision Utah, noted that Matheson has helped the organization expand beyond its original focus on the Wasatch Front to reach rural Utah.
"He's been great," said Grow, "at finding the common ground for the common good."
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, who has worked with Matheson in a variety of roles, called him "a terrific leader" for the group, someone who has continued Envision Utah's commitment to public-private partnerships and who has put Utah on the national map for regional planning programs.
Andrew S. Gruber, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, noted that Matheson has a track record of bringing people together to work on the tough and complex challenges. "The governor could not have made a better choice for this position," he said.
Matheson begins his new role Oct. 11.
The founding director of Trout Unlimited's Utah Water Project, Matheson has been a partner in a Phoenix law firm, as well as a senior attorney and environmental policy adviser for Arizona's largest electric utility.
He earned a bachelor's in international relations from Stanford University and a law degree from UCLA School of Law, where he was a law review editor.
He serves on the Sandy Planning Commission and Wasatch Front Regional Council, Salt Lake City Energy and Climate Advisory Committee, Rocky Mountain Power Electrical Plan Task Force and the Governor's Oil Shale and Tar Sands Advisory Panel. Matheson also is an official with the Boy Scouts of America and a youth basketball coach.