Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly Updates[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
It's not on her resume yet, but "juggling" may soon be added to the list of job skills and accomplishments that Gov. Sarah Palin has performed during her first year as Alaska's top executive.
She was handed the task of running the state's business last December, as she became the first female governor to reside in the mansion in Juneau. Her husband, Todd, is away much of the time on the North Slope, working at a full-time job with an irregular schedule, which was to be on a week-on, week-off basis. She's constantly on the go--Blackberry in hand, traveling around the state and overseas on governmental business; making guest appearances at special events, sharing the load of raising four children, three of whom are teenagers. The governor is constantly making last-minute adjustments to her business and social calendars; tussling daily with tough decisions that will impact Alaskans for generations to come and, oh yes, ... squeezing in time for some of life's leisure moments.
It's all a part of being Alaska's 11th governor, a mother and a wife.
"I love my job," said Gov. Palin, not wasting a breath. "I absolutely love this job."
Despite all the headaches that inherently come with the lofty position, Gov. Palin feels comfortable in her new role. But she is quick to point out that just because she is the governor, she hasn't, and won't, shirk her other responsibilities or duties.
"When you elected me as governor, you also got a mom from Wasilla," said the former two-term mayor of the Mat-Su Borough town.
"Other than maybe joining us for morning cabinet meetings, our children, (Track, Bristol, Willow and Piper) are by our side at many of the functions that need my attention as governor."
With all her many years of public service and being in the public light, Palin's new job as governor means being in the public eye even more.
"We were at the fair (Alaska State Fair in Palmer) this summer and folks were stopping me and asking questions or making comments. But during a brief, quiet moment, Piper tugged on me and asked, 'Mommy, isn't there anywhere we can go and it just be us."
Palin says she wouldn't trade the experience for anything as her first year in office winds down, but life as governor isn't always glamorous or a bowl of cherries for her or Alaska's first family.
There has been upheaval in the legislature, including legislators from her own party, where several former Republican lawmakers have gone to trial amid charges and convictions of bribery and corruption. Actions by those former and current legislators have led to her calling a special session in October, in part, in an effort to clear public perception that oil companies were spared heavy taxes from legislation passed in 2006.
"I have stated many times in the past that I favor a change in the state Republican Party. I think a change in leadership is what is needed for the Republican agenda to be taken seriously."
CHANGES ARE A COMIN'
Change in the governor's role and office has been her hallmark, even before she took the reins. She was the state's first chief executive to take the oath of office away from the state capital. Unlike many of her predecessors, she does not have a chauffeur to drive her or her family to functions, and early on, she dismissed the mansion's chef so that she could prepare meals herself.
"I don't want our children growing up thinking they should get special treatment or be pampered just because their mother is governor. Because when this ends, they still have to face the real world."
SIT AGIA, SIT
Earlier in her initial year of the four-year term, the governor introduced natural gas pipeline legislation, referred to as AGIA (Alaska's Gasline Inducement Act), which brought some early skepticism and criticism from the oil industry and others, but nonetheless passed the legislature and is now law. It is the legal vehicle that sets the groundwork for construction of a natural gas pipeline.
"Mat-Su Borough Mayor Curt Menard gave our family a hound dog puppy just as we were moving to Juneau. We promptly named her AGIA. AGIA is currently taking obedience lessons from a family friend in Talkeetna!" said Gov. Palin.
Dog training, oil and gas legislation tribulations aside, nevertheless, the job has had its rewarding moments.
"I love kids and when I visit villages and cities and see the progress in our schools that children are making daily, it's truly gratifying."
Also near the top of her prized moments as governor was her trip to Kuwait this summer.
"What an incredible opportunity it was to visit with our troops serving in the Middle East. As Governor of Alaska--I was truly privileged to be able to take part in a re-enlistment ceremony for two of the soldiers. Alaska should be extremely proud of the service and sacrifice of our men and women serving in harm's way."
The Palin's eldest child and only son, Track, 18, recently enlisted into the U.S. Army as an infantryman.
Her most disappointing time as governor came as her lifelong Alaskan husband, Todd, was being scrutinized for his employment on the North Slope. Her critics pointed out a potential conflict of interest existed because his job as a production operator with BP Exploration Inc. (Alaska) may interfere with the governor's ability to divest herself from her husband's line of work and what was at stake for Alaska. Many suggested that he take a leave of absence from the oil patch until after her term of office was completed.
"The whole idea really struck a nerve with me, because it not only involved someone who I dearly love, but to also have those accusations thrown at us was very disturbing and disheartening."
AWAY FROM THE OFFICE
Palin, currently one of nine female state chief executives in the U.S., does find time in her busy schedule to enjoy one of her favorite passions-running.
As a former basketball star at Wasilla High School, Gov. Palin's competitive spirit comes alive in her love to run competitively. She placed third in the women's 40-49 age group in the annual Running with the Bulls 5-K race in Palmer in August. Palin finished slightly more then three minutes behind the age-group winner, Elizabeth Ripley.
"I was so embarrassed when they posted my time," said Palin, "because I knew I was going to get a ribbing from a lot of people."
Also high on her list of favorite pastimes is fishing. She was able to spend a couple of days with her family fishing this summer at their set net site in Bristol Bay. True to her tight schedule, she had to leave, while the family stayed longer.
At 42, the youngest governor to hold office in Alaska, and to further validate her fast rise in political prominence, Palin was selected as chairwoman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission for 2007-2008. She is the only chairwoman in the history of the IOGCC to have served as a past official representative to the organization, having also served as chair on Alaska's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
"I spent a year campaigning and preparing myself for this journey ahead, including bringing on the right people to fill the right jobs. I'm smart enough to know that I can't do it all alone. And on the whole, so far, I think we've been pretty successful."
BY BEN GRENN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
FEED