Mayoralty of Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin served two terms (1996–2002) as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, which is a city located 29 miles (47 km) north of the port of Anchorage. At the conclusion of Palin's tenure as mayor in 2002, the city had about 6,300 residents,cite web
date = June 21, 2006
url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-02.csv
title = Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Alaska, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007
format = CSV
work = 2007 Population Estimates
publisher = U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division
accessdate = 2008-09-05] and it is now the fifth largest city in the state. [Bennett, James. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/09/09/do0904.xml “Sarah Palin is not such a small-town girl after all”] , The Daily Telegraph (2008-09-09). The four larger cities in Alaska are Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Sitka.] Term limits prevented Palin from running for a third term as mayor. Throughout her two terms as mayor, Palin was a registered Republican.

Duties of mayor

The duties of Wasilla's mayor are more circumscribed than those of many other mayors in the United States. The mayor of Wasilla supervises the police department, which was created three years before Palin took office, the public works department, the parks and recreation department, a planning office, a library and a small history museum. Firefighting and schools are handled by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough government, and the state government handles social services and environmental regulation, such as storm water management for building projects. Palin described her duties as mayor to the "Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman" newspaper: "It's not rocket science. It's $6 million and 53 employees."

Campaign for mayor in 1996

In 1996, Palin had been serving on the city council for four years, and decided to run for mayor. She defeated three-term incumbent mayor John Stein, running on a platform of "fresh ideas and energy".cite news | first = Tom | last = Kizzia | url =http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/story/8334949p-8231037c.html | title = 'Fresh face' launched Palin: Wasilla mayor was groomed from an early political age. | work = Anchorage Daily News | date = 2006-10-23 |accessdate=2008-09-01] In the campaign, she vowed to replace "stale leadership" and criticized Stein for wasteful spending and high taxes. [(Johnson 2008, p. 45)] She also introduced campaign issues such as abortion, gun rights, and term limits into the race.cite news|first=William|last=Yardley|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html?_r=1|title=Palin's Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual|work=The New York Times|date=2008-09-02|accessdate=2008-09-02] Although the mayoral election was non-partisan, the state Republican party ran advertisements on her behalf. Palin did not brandish her religious views during that campaign, but she did play up her church work. A local cable TV program referred to Palin as Wasilla's first "Christian mayor," which prompted an objection from Stein who noted that he and several previous mayors were Christian.

First term as mayor

Upon taking office in October 1996, she began to make staffing changes. She eliminated the position of museum director and asked for updated resumes and resignation letters from Wasilla police chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak, and librarian Mary Ellen Emmons.cite news|url=http://www.mceades.com/graphics/palin_article1.jpg|title=Wasilla’s new mayor asks officials to quit |date=1996-10-28|publisher=Daily Sitka Sentinel] She temporarily required department heads to get her approval before talking to reporters, stating they first needed to become better acquainted with her policies. As promised during her campaign, she reduced her own salary by 10%, from $68,000 to $61,200;cite news | url=http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/did_palin_really_take_a_pay_cu.php |last=Sargent|first=Greg|work=TPM Election Central|date=september 18,2008|accessdate=2008-09-18] she also reduced her workload by hiring a new city administrator. By 1999, the city council had raised her salary back to $68,000. In her first term, state Republican party leaders began grooming her for higher office.

Her first months in office were so rocky that there was talk of a recall attempt in 1997, which fizzled. Her recollection is that, "I grew tremendously in my early months as mayor." Despite the rocky start, Palin gained favor with Wasilla voters. She kept a jar with the names of Wasilla residents on her desk, and once a week she pulled a name from it and picked up the phone. She would ask: "How's the city doing?"

Police matters

Palin gave a signed letter to Police Chief Stambaugh on January 30, 1997 stating: "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment..."cite news|url= http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510219.html |title=Wasilla keeps librarian, but police chief is out|last=Komarnitsky|first=S.J.|date=1997-02-01|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|pages=1B|accessdate=2008-08-31] Palin spoke with Stambaugh at least three times about his continued service, but ultimately he was fired as planned. Stambaugh filed a lawsuit which was later dismissed by a court that found the mayor had the right to fire city employees for nearly any reason, including a political one, or for no reason at all.citeweb| last = Komarnitsky| first = S.J.| date = 2000-03-01| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F793D42B8AA7008&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM| title = Judge Backs Chief's Firing| publisher = Anchorage Daily News|accessdate=2008-09-01]

Stambaugh's suit claimed contract violation, wrongful termination and gender discrimination. The suit alleged that Stambaugh was fired because he opposed a concealed weapons bill that passed in the state-legislature with the support of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and because he was a man who intimidated Mayor Palin because of his size.cite news |author=Toomey, Sheila |url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/521942.html
title=Firing suit in Wasilla hits court (2/22/1997) |work=Anchorage Daily News |date=September 10, 2008 Alaska Governor Tony Knowles vetoed the concealed weapons bill, and his veto message is [http://www.legis.state.ak.us/BASIS/get_jrn_page.asp?session=19&bill=SB177&jrn=4402&hse=S here] . Further info about the bill is [http://www.legis.state.ak.us/BASIS/get_bill.asp?session=19&bill=SB177 here] .] [Armstrong, Ken and Bernton, Hal. [http://hawk.heraldinteractive.com/news/national/politics/2008/view.bg?articleid=1117919&format=&page=2&listingType=2008campnews "Sarah Palin had turbulent first year as mayor of Alaska town"] , Seattle Times (2008-09-09).] Stambaugh also alleged that his firing was retaliation for his opposition to letting bars stay open late at night. [Carlton, Jim et al. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122048513733097089.html?mod=googlenews_wsj “Focus Turns to Palin Record”] , Wall Street Journal (2008-09-04).] In a deposition, Palin denied that the NRA contacted her about the concealed weapons bill.Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/158738 "A Police Chief, A Lawsuit And A Small-Town Mayor"] ; Newsweek, Sep 13, 2008] The court ordered Stambaugh to pay $22,000 of Palin's legal expenses. cite web| last = Komarnitsky| first = S.J. |date = March 1, 2000 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AS&p_theme=as&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F793D42B8AA7008&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM| |title = Judge Backs Chief's Firing |work = Anchorage Daily News
accessdate=2008-09-01 ]

As mayor of Wasilla, Palin was in charge of the city Police Department, consisting of 25 officers and the man she selected to replace Stambaugh as Chief of Police, Charlie Fannon.cite web | last = Yardley | first = William | title = Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms | publisher = The New York Times | date = 2008-08-29 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?pagewanted=3&hp | accessdate = 2008-08-30 ] She is credited with strengthening the Police Department. Palin would later come into conflict with Fannon when he ran for political office using campaign ads containing a false endorsement from Palin. Palin actually supported another candidate, Curt Menard. [White, Rindi. [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18734890_ITM “Palin shocked to learn she backs Fannon: MAYOR: Candidate spliced an old statement into a new ad”] , Anchorage Daily News (2006-10-01).]

In 2000, state legislators in Alaska learned that some police agencies were charging rape victims or their insurance companies for forensic medical examination necessary to gather evidence, which can cost $500 to $1200; sources differ as to whether this was done by some rural police agenciesCitation | last = Dilanian| first = Ken| last2 = Kelley| first2 = Matt| title = Palin's town used to bill victims for rape kits| newspaper = USA Today| year = 2008| date = September 10, 2008 | url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-10-rape-exams_N.htm] or only by Wasilla's. In the 6 committee meetings for the bill, Wasilla was not mentioned [ [http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_minutes.asp?chamb=B&date1=010181&date2=120180&session=21&Root=HB270 "House or Senate Minutes for Bill: HB 270"] ] and the only victim specifically mentioned was from Juneau [ [http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_single_minute.asp?ch=H&beg_line=0204&end_line=0332&session=21&comm=FIN&date=20000410&time=1415 Minutes of Finance Committee meeting, April 10, 2000] ] . In response to complaints this generated, the Alaska Legislature passed a law in 2000 outlawing the practice.cite news
work=Washington Post
page=A1
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302596.html
date=2008-09-14
first=Alec
last=MacGillis
title=As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin Cut Own Duties, Left Trail of Bad Blood] Citation | last = Bryson| first = George| title = Critics: Under Palin, Wasilla charged rape victims for exam| newspaper = The McClatchy Company| year = 2008| date = September 11, 2008| url = http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/52266.html] Fannon responded to the new law by expressing concern about the cost of the rape kits.cite web| last = Goode| first = Jo| title = Knowles signs sexual assault bill| publisher = The Frontiersman| date = 2000-05-22| url = http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2000/05/23/news.txt| accessdate = 2008-09-10] Fannon stated: "In the past we've charged the cost of exams to the victim's insurance company when possible. I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer....Ultimately it is the criminal who should bear the burden of the added costs."

In 2008, former Democratic Governor Tony Knowles, who signed the bill into law and whom Palin subsequently defeated in order to become governor, said, "There was one town in Alaska that was charging victims for this, and that was Wasilla." Also in 2008, Palin's spokeswoman stated that Palin “does not believe, nor has ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test.” "USA Today" reported that the spokeswoman "would not answer other questions, including when Palin learned of Wasilla's policy or whether she tried to change it." The City of Wasilla says it has no record of victims being billed. [Keller, Diane. [http://www.cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=544 "Re:Billing of Sexual Assault Victims for Forensic Exams"] .]

Library matters

According to librarian Mary Ellen Emmons, she and Palin discussed the question of library censorship in October 1996.cite news|url= http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/06/breaking_news/doc48c1c8a60d6d9379155484.txt |title=Palin: Library censorship inquiries 'Rhetorical'|last=Stuart|first=Paul|date=1996-12-18|publisher=Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman|accessdate=2008-09-06] Emmons recalls Palin asking whether Emmons would object to censorship, and recalls Palin raising the possibility of people circling the library in protest, to which Emmons replied that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) would get involved. In early December, Palin spoke publicly about the issue, using it as an example of a discussion she'd had with her department heads, stating that "many issues were discussed, both rhetorical and realistic in nature." She further added that censorship "was discussed in the context of a professional question being asked in regards to library policy" and that she did not have a specific list of books in mind. No books were removed from the library.cite news|url=http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515512.html |title=Palin pressured Wasilla librarian|last=White|first=Rindi|date=2008-09-04|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|pages=1B|accessdate=2008-09-05] Armstrong, Ken and Bernton, Hal. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html "Sarah Palin had turbulent first year as mayor of Alaska town"] , "Seattle Times" (2008-09-07).]

According to Paul Stuart, a local journalist who covered the controversy at the time, one of the books Palin asked the librarian to ban was "Pastor, I am Gay" by Howard Bess, a pastor who lives just outside Wasilla. However, reporters who have interviewed Stuart "find no basis to find that part of the story true." [cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/704/|title=Story of banned books is murky|publisher=PolitiFact.com|accessdate=2008-09-15]

Emmons stated that she supported the ability of people to challenge the selection and availability of library material according to a set of procedures previously established by the city of Wasilla. She also indicated that this discussion with Palin arose at a time when she was trying to help Wasilla's procedural policies become more similar to those established by the neighboring Mat-Su Borough which Emmons described as "a good process, and almost all public libraries have one." Emmons further said that she suspected that Palin might encourage a departure from those procedures. From 1986 to 2008, several books acquired by the Wasilla Public Library were challenged by various citizens as poor selections, such as a challenge to "Heather Has Two Mommies" in 1997. None of the challenged books were opposed or removed by Palin. [Mooney, Brian. [http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/09/wasilla_besiege.html “Wasilla besieged by researchers”] , Boston Globe (2008-09-10).]

Palin gave a signed letter to Emmons on January 30, 1997 stating: "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment..."cite news|url= http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510219.html |title=Wasilla keeps librarian, but police chief is out|last=Komarnitsky|first=S.J.|date=1997-02-01|publisher=Anchorage Daily News|pages=1B|accessdate=2008-08-31] This was the same day that Palin gave a similar letter to Police Chief Stambaugh; Emmons as well as Stambaugh had publicly supported Palin's defeated mayoral opponent, John Stein. Palin rescinded the firing of Emmons the next day after meeting with her and after what the "Anchorage Daily News" called "a wave of public support for Emmons." Palin stated that her concerns had been alleviated, and that Emmons agreed to support Palin's plan to merge the town's library and museum operations.

Taxes and spending

Due to income generated by a 2% sales tax that was enacted prior to her election, Palin was able to cut property taxes by 75% and to eliminate personal property and business inventory taxes. She also secured funding for improvements to the roads and sewers. Palin reduced spending on the town museum and prevented building of a new library and city hall, while putting in bike paths, and she was able to get funding for storm-water treatment in order to protect the region's many lakes.

Campaign for reelection in 1999

Palin ran for re-election against Stein in 1999 [(Johnson 2008, p. 65)] [cite web|url=http://election.nationaljournal.com/2006/governor/ak.htm|title=2006 Campaign Tip Sheets: Alaska Governor|publisher=National Journal|accessdate=2008-08-30] and was returned to office by a margin of 909 to 292 votes. [cite web |url=http://cityofwasilla.com/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=41 |title=October 5, 1999 Regular Election; Official Results |accessdate=2008-09-01 |work=cityofwasilla.com |publisher=City of Wasilla |date=2005-10-11 |format=PDF ] Palin was also elected president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors. [cite web |url=http://www.adn.com/politics/v-printer/story/510153.html |title=From Wasilla's basketball court to the national stage : Sarah Palin timeline |accessdate=2008-09-01 |work=adn.com |publisher=Anchorage Daily News |date=2008-08-29 ]

Palin wore a Buchanan button during a visit by presidential candidate Pat Buchanan in 1999, but Palin was a co-chair on the Alaska campaign of rival presidential candidate Steve Forbes in 2000.Lott, Maxim. [http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/05/top-7-myths-lies-and-untruths-about-sarah-palin/ “Top 7 Myths, Lies, and Untruths About Sarah Palin”] , Fox News (2008-09-05).] Shortly after wearing the Buchanan button, Palin responded to a newspaper article about it: "When presidential candidates visit our community, I am always happy to meet them. I’ll even put on their button when handed one as a polite gesture of respect....The article may have left your readers with the perception that I am endorsing this candidate, as opposed to welcoming his visit to Wasilla."

econd term as mayor

Taxes, borrowing and spending

According to Diane Keller, who served on the city council when Palin was mayor and would later serve as mayor herself, Wasilla’s budgets and tax receipts increased during Palin’s terms as mayor, but much of that increase was caused by growth of the city. In the last two years of Palin’s mayorship alone, Wasilla’s population grew by about 13 percent. During her six years as mayor, general government expenditures increased by over 33 percent, while the amount of city taxes went up by 38 percent. [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/705/ “Numbers right, context missing”] , Politifact.com from St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly (2008-08-31).]

The property tax rate fell under Palin. Conversely, the sales tax rate went from 2 percent to 2.5 percent, and that increase was approved by voter referendum to pay off the city’s new sports complex. Voters also approved a bond issue for road improvements.

When Palin took office, she inherited a long-term city debt of just over a million dollars, and that debt increased to about $25 million by the time she left office. The big-ticket items responsible for the debt were: $14.7 million for the new multi-use sports complex; $5.5 million for street projects; and $3 million for water improvement projects. Because of economic growth, Keller anticipates that Wasilla can stop charging the extra .5 percent sales tax two years sooner than expected.

ports complex

During her second term as mayor, Palin introduced a ballot measure proposing construction of the municipal sports center to be financed by the 0.5% sales tax increase.cite web | last = Phillips | first = Michael M. | title = Palin's Hockey Rink Leads To Legal Trouble in Town She Led | publisher = Wall Street Journal | date = 2008-09-06 | url = http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122065537792905483.html | accessdate = 2008-09-08 ] The $14.7 million Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex was built on time and under budget, but the city lost an additional $1.3 million due to an eminent domain lawsuit caused by a failure to obtain legal ownership of the property before beginning construction. In 2001, the judge hearing the initial property dispute had ruled for the city and the city's attorney advised the city to proceed with construction; subsequently the judge reversed himself and ruled that the city had never signed the proper papers. [cite news|url=http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2002/07/26/news2.txt|title=Wasilla told to go ahead: Jacobus tells council to proceed with arena|last=Christiansen|date=2002-07-26|publisher=Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman|accessdate=2008-09-10]

CBS News obtained 86 pages of city council documents that show Palin sought to justify the tax increase to fund the sports complex in part because the private sector had not stepped in to fill the gap. She writes that the ice rink offers an opportunity for government to stop a social ill like drug abuse or juvenile delinquency before it starts. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/cbsnews_investigates/main4427776.shtml?source=mostpop_story "Palin: Government Can Fix Social Ills"] , CBS News (2008-09-09).]

Earmarks

During her second term, Palin joined with nearby communities in jointly hiring the Anchorage-based firm of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh to lobby for earmarks for Wasilla. The effort was led by Steven Silver, a former chief of staff for Senator Ted Stevens, [cite web
url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-31-palin-bridge_N.htm
last = Dilanian
first = Ken
title=Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006
publisher=USA Today
accessdate=2008-09-02] and the firm secured nearly $27 million in earmarked funds for public and private entities in the Wasilla area, but only $7.95 million of that amount went to Palin's city government.cite web
url=http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=5765926&page=1
last = Schwartz
first = Emma
title=Palin's Record on Pork: Less Sizzle than Reported
publisher=ABC News
accessdate=2008-09-24] Earmarks from the firm included $500,000 for a youth shelter, $1.9 million for a transportation hub, $900,000 for sewer repairs, and $15 million for a rail project linking Wasilla and the ski resort community of Girdwood.cite web | last = Krane | first = Paul | title = Palin's Small Alaska Town Secured Big Federal Funds | publisher = The Washington Post | date = 2008-09-02 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090103148.html?hpid=topnews | accessdate = 2008-09-02 ] Earmark requests from this firm were criticized by Senator John McCain on three occasions, [cite news
url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-earmarks3-2008sep03,0,6851593.story
title=McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin
work=Los Angeles Times
date=September 3, 2008
accessdate=2008-09-03
first=Tom
last=Hamburger
coauthors=Richard Simon and Janet Hook: "Three times in recent years, the Arizona senator's lists of 'objectionable' pork spending have included earmarks requested by his new running mate.... Wasilla received $11.9 million in earmarks from 2000 to 2003."] but Palin was only involved in one of those three.

uccession

In 2002, term limits prevented Palin from running for a third term as mayor.cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=5688162|title= Timeline of Gov. Palin's life and career|author=The Associated Press|publisher=ABC News|date=2008-08-29] Palin's stepmother-in-law, Faye Palin, ran for the office but lost the election to Dianne Kellercite web|url=http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=61|title=2002 Election Results] after Sarah Palin endorsed Keller.cite news|first=William|last=Yardley|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/politics/03wasilla.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin|title=Palin's Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual|work=The New York Times|date=2008-09-02|accessdate=2008-09-02]

See also

* Governorship of Sarah Palin
* Electoral history of Sarah Palin
* Political positions of Sarah Palin

References