Anchorage Daily News

BETH BRAGG

Wolf whistles for Palin pulling Alaska politics out of the cold

Sarah Palin appears to be accomplishing in a couple of weeks -- for free -- a project her predecessor poured $100,000 into before abandoning. She's polishing Alaska's image.

Yup'ik ties give Palins unique Alaska connection

Like many Alaska Natives of her generation, Lena Andree, Todd Palin's 87-year-old Yup'ik grandmother, grew up living between two worlds.

Investigator set to interview Palins

Palin's family ties include links to FDR, Princess Diana

Barack Obama and Dick Cheney are not the only political odd couple who share a family tree. Sarah Palin is linked in her lineage to Franklin D. Roosevelt. She also has a connection with Princess Diana.

Estimates show Palin assets top $1 million

Sarah Palin and her husband have pieced together a uniquely Alaska income that reached comfortably into six figures even before she became governor, capitalizing on valuable fishing rights, a series of land deals and a patchwork of other ventures to build an above-average lifestyle.

Palin got zoning aid, gifts

Though Sarah Palin depicts herself as a pit bull fighting good-old-boy politics, in her years as mayor she and her friends received special benefits more typical of small-town politics as usual, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Palin on cover of state tourism brochure

GOVERNOR (2/8/2008)

About-face

Let's count how many things Gov. Sarah Palin's predecessor did that she's undone. It's quite a list. The state-owned jet: Sold. The proposed Gravina Island "bridge to nowhere" and a pioneer road to Juneau: Won't be funded. The state's habitat biologists: Getting restored to their old digs at Fish and Game.

Governor's jet to be sold on eBay (12/13/2006)

With an eBay account and about $2.5 million, you too can fly in the state jet that cost former Gov. Frank Murkowski so much political pain in his failed re-election.

State of Alaska's planes on eBay

Off topic (11/5/2006)

We knew the schedules of our gubernatorial candidates were insane. We knew they were being hammered day after day by a barrage of hard-hitting questions on issues that greatly affect the future of this state. Well, this questionnaire was the opposite of that. Enough on the gas pipeline; what we really wanted to know was: Who does their hair?

New wasilla mayor asks city's managers to resign in loyalty test(11/26/1996)

The newly elected mayor of Wasilla has asked all of the city's top managers to resign in order to test their loyalty to her administration. Mayor Sarah Palin sent the resignation requests Thursday to Police Chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak and Mary Ellen Emmons, the head of libraries.

Property tax bluff might become law(12/18/1996)

When Wasilla city councilman Nick Carney recently proposed abolishing city property taxes, he said it was more of a ruse to spur discussion about the town's future than a serious proposal.

Wasilla eliminates three taxes(12/24/1997)

Wasilla residents no longer will have to pay taxes on their boats, snowmachines or planes. The City Council voted unanimously Friday to eliminate the town's personal property tax, as well as a business inventory and aircraft tax.

Wasilla OKs taxes to pay for police(10/8/1992)

Voters in Wasilla bucked tradition Tuesday and, by a slim margin, approved plans to start a police department financed by the city's first-ever sales tax. "I'd feel safer saying this if the margin was wider, but I think Wasilla finally sees the light. People see the need for change," said Sarah Palin, 28. Palin, a political newcomer, was one of two supporters of the police-sales tax plan elected to the city council Tuesday.

Palin supported first-ever Wasilla sales tax to pay for police department (10/8/1992)

Voters in Wasilla bucked tradition Tuesday and, by a slim margin, approved plans to start a police department financed by the city's first-ever sales tax. "I'd feel safer saying this if the margin was wider, but I think Wasilla finally sees the light. People see the need for change," said Sarah Palin, 28. Palin, a political newcomer, was one of two supporters of the police-sales tax plan elected to the city council Tuesday.

Wasilla OKs sales tax for sports center (3/9/2002)

Wasilla residents have given the go ahead to building a new multiuse sports center in town and to raising the city sales tax to pay for it. With the final votes counted Friday, residents voted 306 to 286 in favor of a measure to raise the city sales tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent to pay the estimated $14.7 million cost of building the center.

Sarah Barracuda tidbits

Sports infuse Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's life.

museum staff quits in anger (8/6/1997)

Opal Toomey, Esther West and Ann Meyers don't seem like politically active types. There are no bumper stickers on their cars, no pins on their lapels. But the three gray-haired matrons of Wasilla's city museum decided to take a stand last week.

Palin's attorney calls investigator biased

A lawyer for Gov. Sarah Palin is taking another stab at derailing the Legislature's ethics investigation into the firing of her former public safety commissioner, accusing the retired prosecutor who is conducting it of acting unethically himself.

More on 'Troopergate'

Valdez man says he'll buy state's unwanted jet airplane (8/21/2007)

A Valdez businessman says he plans to buy the infamous state jet for $2.1 million, and he hopes to close the deal as early as Wednesday.

Tour the inside of the jet

Wasilla mayor fires police, library chiefs (1/31/1997)

Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin fired the city's police chief and the library director without warning Thursday, accusing them of not fully supporting her efforts to govern. Irl Stambaugh and Mary Ellen Emmons said letters signed by Palin were dropped on their desks Thursday afternoon telling them their jobs were over as of Feb. 13 and that they no longer needed to report to work.

Wasilla delegation to lobby for funds in Washington, D.C.(2/1/2006)

Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller, two City Council members and public works director Archie Giddings plan an $11,000 March trip to Washington, D.C., that they estimate will net hundreds of thousands in federal dollars for city projects.

Judge backs chief's firing(3/2/2000)

Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin says she didn't fire Police Chief Irl Stambaugh three years ago because he supported her election opponent John Stein. But even if it was the reason, she was within her rights to give the police chief the boot, a federal judge ruled.

Mayoral race tests valley (9/20/1999)

Three years ago, Sarah Palin scored an upset victory over longtime Wasilla Mayor John Stein in a contentious election that had city residents firing off angry letters and some even talking of a recall. Now the two candidates are squaring off again in a race that promises to be a test not only of the candidates' personal appeal but also of a broader struggle for political dominance in the Valley.

Firing suit in Wasilla hits court (2/22/1997)

The word war between Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin and the police chief she fired last month moved into court Friday when attorneys for Irl Stambaugh filed a lawsuit accusing the mayor of contract violation, wrongful termination and gender discrimination.

Palin wins Wasilla mayor's job (10/2/1996)

City Council member Sarah Palin in an upset victory ousted longtime incumbent John Stein Tuesday to become mayor of Wasilla. Palin beat Stein by more than 200 votes. The final tally was 617-413.

Wasilla fought losing battle over land ownership(10/7/2007)

No politician was more closely associated with the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex than Mayor Sarah Palin, who was first elected in 1996. For some, it remains a crowning achievement of her mayoral years.

Palin denies Mat-Su bias in state budgeting(10/7/2007)

When the smoke cleared after Gov. Sarah Palin's big cuts to the capital budget in June, one survivor that stood out was a $630,000 appropriation to the Wasilla Sports Complex.

Commute and current job work for Palin(9/4/2007)

Gov. Sarah Palin recently sat down with Daily News reporter Tom Kizzia to talk about some of the issues of her first year in office. It had been just a year since she swept to to her first big electoral victory, in Alaska's 2006 Republican primary. Polls have shown her with a positive rating of more than 80 percent.

Palin's oil agenda includes credits as well as tax(9/3/2007)

Gov. Sarah Palin has called a special session of the Legislature to reconsider the state's new Petroleum Profits Tax, or PPT, passed in the waning days of the administration of her predecessor, Frank Murkowski.

PART I of a series

Palin foresees positive changes in politics(9/2/2007)

On Aug. 22, 2006, Sarah Palin shocked the Republican Party establishment with a crushing primary victory over incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski and former state Sen. John Binkley. She went on to win the governor's race in November by a comfortable margin and, according to polls, has grown even more popular with Alaskans during her first year in office.

Download the entire interview with Gov. Palin to your computer

Appeal came from being an outsider and a fresh face(11/9/2006)

Voters looking to clean house in Juneau turned to small-town Alaska this week when they chose Sarah Palin as their next governor.

Returns by precinct

State paid for trip when Palin told students to pray for pipeline

Gov. Sarah Palin used state funds in June when she traveled from Juneau to Wasilla to speak to graduating evangelical students and urge them to fan out through Alaska "to make sure God's will be done here."

Alaska Politics blog: Palin church video

CAMPAIGN (10/17/06)

Experience a question in election

Is Sarah Palin ready to be governor? The former Wasilla mayor says yes. But with three weeks until the Nov. 7 election, her opponents are increasingly questioning how well she knows her stuff and how prepared she is for the job.

MAYOR OF WASILLA (11-30-2005)

Wasilla Sports Complex

Nearing the end of its first full year of operation, the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex is boasting 20 to 50 percent increases in off-ice uses offered at the 102,000 square-foot facility.

MAYOR OF WASILLA (7/8/2001)

Working out a complex situation

The dilemma: How to build a multi-use sports complex in the Valley that will satisfy everyone, from ice skaters to basketball players. Do you build an ice rink first, or a flat-floor space to be used by many sporting interests plus conventions? You only have enough money to build one.

MAYOR OF WASILLA (12/6/2001)

Wasilla weighs sports facility

Just how much do Wasilla residents like their sports? City officials may find out. They're considering a measure to raise the city sales tax to pay for a new multiuse sports arena.

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

Palin's military command limited

When presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain introduced Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate Friday, the Arizona senator emphasized her role as commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard.

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

Palin blessed with political luck, instincts

A charmed political career launched Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from small-town mayor to the Republican National Convention, where she accepted the nomination for vice president Wednesday night.

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

Iraq war, gas line God's will, Palin said

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task that is from God."

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

Stevens says Palin has mettle to be commander

From mayor of Wasilla to leader of the free world? Answering the question that the country is asking, Sen. Ted Stevens said Wednesday that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would be ready to step in as commander-in-chief of the military if necessary.

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

Palin pressured Wasilla librarian

Back in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so.

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

Some of Palin's remarks stretch the truth

Gov. Sarah Palin's remarks to the Republican National Convention about her record in state government stretched the truth.

GOVERNOR (09/04/08)

The Joan of Arc of Alaska politics

Sarah Palin was a hockey mom, small-town mayor and rising young Republican star in Alaska in 2003 when she ran afoul of her party's establishment over ethics reform and was cast into the political wilderness.

TIMELINE

From Wasilla's basketball court to the national stage

Born Sarah Louise Heath on Feb. 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Ida., to parents Chuck and Sally Heath; family moves first to Skagway, then to Wasilla, where father teaches science and coaches track.

GOVERNOR (08/22/07)

Alaska's 'First Dude' takes leave from BP job

Todd Palin, Alaska's new first spouse, has taken a leave of absence from his blue-collar job working on the North Slope for BP. Palin, husband of newly elected Gov. Sarah Palin of Wasilla, will instead work part-time for his union, the United Steelworkers Local 4959, according to officials with the union and BP.

GOVERNOR (12/14/07)

Gov. Palin strikes a few poses for fashion magazine

In a state where residents are not shy about voicing political opinions, Internet blogs also don't ignore another aspect of the current occupant of the governor's office: One proclaims Alaska and Palin "Coldest State, Hottest Governor.