Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon has launched his gubernatorial bid saying Utah should dedicate itself to becoming energy independent within 10 years. Corroon is challenging Republican Governor Gary Herbert in a special election to fill out the remainder of Jon Huntsman's term. Huntsman resigned in August to become U.S. Ambassador to China.

Misty Fowler, a member of a group that helped draft Corroon to run for governor, was pleased with rallies held throughout the state on Tuesday. She says Corroon has already established himself politically in Salt Lake County and is known to be politically moderate.

"It was kind of funny that the day the news started breaking that he was going to announce, one of the papers called me to get my input on it," Fowler says. "I said, 'you know the difference between Peter Corroon and Gary Herbert is that Gary Herbert is out there pushing this water deal through where nobody wants it.'

"It's not needed. Even if it should have gone through it definitely shouldn't just be rushed through. That's not something Peter Corroon ever in a million years would do."

Fowler made the comments on KVNU's For the People program Tuesday night. Neither Herbert or Corroon are expected to face an intra-party challenger.