 Palin at the 2010 Time 100 Gala | |
| In office December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009 | |
| Lieutenant | Sean Parnell |
| Preceded by | Frank Murkowski |
| Succeeded by | Sean Parnell |
Chairperson of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission | |
| In office February 19, 2003 – January 23, 2004 | |
| Governor | Frank Murkowski |
| Preceded by | Camille Oechsli Taylor[1] |
| Succeeded by | John K. Norman[1] |
Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska | |
| In office October 14, 1996 – October 14, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | John Stein |
| Succeeded by | Dianne M. Keller |
Member of the Wasilla City Council from Seat E | |
| In office October 19, 1992 – October 14, 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Dorothy Smith |
| Succeeded by | Colleen Cottle |
| Born | February 11, 1964 [2] Sandpoint, Idaho, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | English, Irish and German[3] |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Todd Palin (m. August 29, 1988) |
| Children | Track (b. 1989) Bristol (b. 1990) Willow (b. 1994) Piper (b. 2001) Trig (b. 2008)[4] |
| Residence | Wasilla, Alaska |
| Alma mater | University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaii Pacific College[5] North Idaho College Matanuska-Susitna College[6] University of Idaho - (B.S., 1987)[7] |
| Occupation | Local news sportscaster Commercial fisherman Politician Author Political commentator[8] |
| Religion | Non-denominational Christian[9][10] |
| Signature |  |
On social sites
http://twitter.com/#!/sarahpalinusa
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin
Politician. Born Sarah Louise Heath on February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho. At the age of three months, she moved to Alaska when her parents came to teach school in Skagway in southeast Alaska. Sarah Palin's father, Charles, was a science teacher and track coach. Her mother, Sally, was a school secretary. Palin grew up in the small town of Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage. In 1982, she played on Wasilla High School's state champion girls' basketball team, picking up the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" for her intense playing style. An outdoors enthusiast, Palin grew up as an avid hunter and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, eating moose hamburgers and riding snowmobiles.
After graduating from Wasilla High in 1982, Sarah Palin wore the crown of Miss Wasilla in 1984 and was the runner-up in the Miss Alaska contest. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987. She also became a television sports reporter in Anchorage.
Palin eloped with her high school sweetheart, Todd Palin, on August 29, 1988, and helped run his family's commercial fishing business after their marriage. Todd, who is part Yu'pik Eskimo, also worked for BP at a Prudhoe Bay processing facility. He took leave from the company when his wife became governor to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Throughout their marriage Palin and her husband had five children: Bristol, Willow, Piper, Track and Trig.
In 1992, Palin decided to enter the political arena. Running as on the Republican ticket, she won a seat on the Wasilla City Council by opposing tax hikes and, four years later, she was elected mayor of Wasilla, knocking off three-term incumbent John Stein 651 to 440. As mayor, Palin cut property taxes and reduced spending. She also raised the city sales tax by half of a percent in order to build a popular sports complex and put more money into public safety. Mayor Palin also effectively used the system of congressional earmarks, collecting $26.9 million in such funding, according the independent watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Palin ran her first statewide campaign in 2002 in a bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, but lost by fewer than 2,000 votes. Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Sarah Palin to chair the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2003. She resigned a year later in protest over what she perceived to be the "lack of ethics" of fellow Alaskan Republican leaders, including Republican Party Chair Randy Ruedrich. In 2006, Palin won the Republican primary for Governor, defeating Murkowski. She went on to win the general election in November 2006 by defeating former Democratic Governor Tony Knowles, 49 percent to 41 percent. With her election, Palin made history as the first female governor, as well as the youngest governor, of Alaska. She was also the state's first governor to be born after Alaska achieved statehood in 1959.
While running for governor, Palin supported the so-called "bridge to nowhere," a $400 million plan to build a bridge in a remote Alaskan community. Palin said the bridge was essential for local prosperity, but once she became governor she turned against it, citing rising costs and other priorities. "I told Congress thanks but no thanks for that bridge to nowhere up in Alaska," Palin said. "If we wanted a bridge we'll build it ourselves."
No comments:
Post a Comment