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Todd Palin

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Todd Palin
Born
Todd Mitchell Palin

(1964-09-06) September 6, 1964 (age 59)
Dillingham, Alaska, USA
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma materWasilla High School
Occupation(s)Homemaker
Oil field production worker[1]Commercial fisherman
EmployerBritish Petroleum
Known forChampion Iron Dog snow machine racer, husband of Alaska governor Sarah Palin
Political partyRepublican[2]
SpouseSarah Palin
ChildrenTrack, Bristol, Willow, Piper, Trig
Parent(s)James and Blanche Palin

Todd Mitchell Palin (born September 6, 1964)[3] is an American oil field production operator and the current First Gentleman (self-styled "First Dude")[4] of Alaska. He is the husband of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the 2008 Vice Presidential nominee of the Republican Party.

Early life and career

Todd Palin was born in Dillingham, Alaska, to Jim Palin and his first wife, Blanche Kallstrom.[5] His father, a native of Seattle, Washington,[6] is a former general manager of Matanuska Electrical Association.[7] His mother, a former secretary of the Alaska Federation of Natives, is one-quarter Yup'ik, and his maternal grandmother, Lena Andre, is a member of the Curyung tribe.[8] Todd Palin has taken some college courses but does not have a degree.[5]

In 1984, at the age of 20, Palin was arrested for driving under the influence.[9] No accident and no injuries were involved in the events leading to his arrest.[10]

Palin is a union member belonging to the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers).[11]

For 18 years, he worked for BP in the North Slope oil fields of Alaska. In 2007, in order to avoid a conflict of interest relating to his wife's position as governor, he took a leave[12] from his job as production supervisor when his employer became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with his wife's administration.[5] Seven months later, because the family needed more income, Todd returned to BP. In order to avoid potential conflict of interest, this time he accepted a non-management position as a production operator.[12][1]

He is also a commercial salmon fisherman at Bristol Bay on the Nushugak River.[5] Financial statements filed in 2007 show that Palin earned $92,790 from BP and fishing.[6]

Public life

Palin first registered to vote in 1989. From 1995 to 2002 he was registered to vote as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party.[13] In late August 2008, The Politico reported that Palin was registered to vote as an independent ("undeclared"), and had never registered as a Republican.[14] In early September 2008, a spokesman for John McCain said Palin was now a registered Republican.[2]

As First Gentleman, Palin has encouraged young Alaskans who cannot afford college to consider jobs in the oil and gas industry as an effective training ground and has advised the Governor on workforce development issues for the natural gas pipeline she supports.[15] He is a community volunteer working in youth sports, coaching hockey and basketball.[16]

Gregg Erickson, columnist for the Anchorage Daily News, said that Palin "obviously plays an important role ... I've seen him in the governor's office, and I know she's conducted interviews in the governor's office with him present." Palin is copied on e-mails dealing with official state business. He helped write the state budget, has been involved in personnel matters, and has called lawmakers when he or his wife have disagreed with what they have done.[17]

Palin was a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska pageant.[18]

Champion snowmachine racer

In 2008, 400 miles (640 km) from defending his Tesoro Iron Dog championship, he was injured and broke his arm[19] when he was thrown 70 feet[20] from his machine.[21] He was sent to the hospital but managed to finish in fourth place.[22] This race is the world's longest[23] snowmachine race which traces the path of the Iditarod race with an extra journey of several hundred miles to Fairbanks added. He first competed in the race in 1993 and has been the champion four times.[15] His racing teamate is Scott Davis.[24] He has previously raced with Dusty Van Meter in the race, and they were co-champions in 2000 and 2002.[25]

Family life

On August 29, 1988, Palin eloped with and married his high school sweetheart, Sarah Louise Heath, in a civil ceremony.[26] The Palins have five children, two boys and three girls. The two sons are Track CJ (born 1989), who has enlisted in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq on September 11, 2008, and Trig Paxson Van (born 2008),[27] who has Down syndrome[28]. His three daughters are Bristol (born 1990),[29] Willow (born 1995), and Piper Indy (born 2001)[15]. On September 1, 2008 it was announced that Bristol was five months pregnant and intended to keep the baby and marry the father of her child, Levi Johnston.[30]

Palin fishes and is a pilot,[31] holding a Private Pilot Certificate.[32] He also owns his own aircraft, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub.[33]

Palin's stepmother, Faye Palin, ran unsuccessfully in 2002 for the position of Mayor for Wasilla, Alaska, to succeed Palin's wife, Sarah, who was term-limited. Faye Palin, who is pro-choice and a registered Democrat, lost to a candidate endorsed by her step-daughter-in-law.[34]

Involvement in controversy

Main article: Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal

Todd Palin's name has appeared in news reports regarding the firing of Commissioner Walter Monegan and the actions of Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten.[35][36][37] At one point, Todd Palin brought information prepared by himself and a private investigator to Monegan.[35]

On September 12, 2008, the Alaska Legislature subpoenaed Palin to testify on his role in the controversy.[38] On September 18, the McCain/Palin campaign announced that Todd Palin would refuse to testify because he does not believe the investigation is legitimate.[39] State senator Bill Wielechowski said that the witnesses could not be punished for disobeying the subpoenas until the full legislature comes into session, which is scheduled to be in January 2009.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b "Palin carved her own path in Alaska - International Herald Tribune". Iht.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  2. ^ a b Tucker Bounds. Meet the "First Dude", by Carol Costello, CNN video, 9/4/08. Retrieved 2008-09-13. "Todd Palin is a registered Republican that re-registered with a 3rd party for a time,..."
  3. ^ Martin, Jonathan (2008-09-06). "Todd Palin: A celebrity in his own right". Jonathan Martin's Blog. Politico.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  4. ^ Zernike, Kate (2008-09-02). "A Low-Key Outdoorsman and Family Man Now Faces a National Role". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  5. ^ a b c d Lee, Jeannette J. (2007-05-27). "Todd Palin unique among nation's 5 first husbands". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b Hal Bernton. "Nation & World | Palin's swift rise wins both admirers, enemies | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  7. ^ "Tri-Borough mayors Call for State Energy Policy" (PDF). Tri-Borough Commission. 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  8. ^ Rhoades, Karen (October 11, 2006). "Sarah Palin on Native people". SitNews. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  9. ^ "Palin's Husband Has DWI Arrest". CNN. September 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  10. ^ "Todd Palin's DUI". ABCNews. September 1, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  11. ^ Kizzia, Tom (2008-08-29). "In Alaska, Palin known for battling against long odds". McClatchy Newspapers. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b Yardley, William (2008-08-29). "Sarah Heath Palin, an Outside Who Charms". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Tapper, Jack (2008-09-02). "Todd Palin, Longtime Former AIP Member". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Vogel, Kenneth (2008-08-29). "Palin's hubby and son not Republicans". The Politico. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  15. ^ a b c Lee, Jeanette (2007-05-06). "'First dude' probably doesn't host many teas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "National Governors Association". nga.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  17. ^ Mike Madden, "Sarah Palin's powerful "First Dude", Salon magazine, September 2008
  18. ^ "Miss Alaska Scholarship Pageant". Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  19. ^ Mowry, Tim (2008-02-18). "Despite broken arm, First Dude crosses Iron Dog finish in fourth". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2008-08-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Medred, Craig (2008-02-15). "Todd Palin crashes in Iron Dog". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Todd Palin receives minor injuries near Iron Dog checkpoint". ktuu.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  22. ^ "Tesoro Iron Dog". irondog.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  23. ^ Fritze, John (2008-08-29). "Friends: VP choice has 'very strong' values". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Todd Palin: Featured First Husband". snowweek.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  25. ^ "Tesoro Iron Dog". irondog.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  26. ^ Grier, Peter (2008-08-29). "Sarah Palin, McCain's pick, forged maverick political path in Alaska". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "title" ignored (help)
  27. ^ "Welcome to Alaska, Trig Paxson Van Palin". ktuu.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  28. ^ "Alaska governor gives birth to 5th child, a boy named Trig". bostonherald.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  29. ^ Quinn, State of Alaska. "3PA-07-08535MO State of Alaska vs. Palin, Bristol S". Alaska Trial Court Clases. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Text "1" ignored (help)
  30. ^ Shear, Michael D. and Karl Vick. "No Surprises From Palin, McCain Team Says". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  31. ^ "National Governors Association". nga.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  32. ^ "FAA Regsitry: Airmen Certification Inquiry". FAA. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  33. ^ "FAA Registry: N-Number Inquiry". FAA. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  34. ^ Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2008 By NATHAN THORNBURGH / WASILLA, ALASKA (Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2008). "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record - TIME". Time.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ a b "Monegan to Palin: 'Ma'am, I Need to Keep You at Arm's Length' - Washington Post Investigations". Voices.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  36. ^ Michael Luo (August 29, 2008). "Investigators Are Looking at Governor About Firing". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  37. ^ Philip Sherwell and Tim Shipman (August 30, 2008). "Sarah Palin poses 'Troopergate' risk to John McCain's US election bid". Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  38. ^ Yardley, William (September 13, 2008). "Active Role for Palin's Husband in Alaska Government". New York Times.
  39. ^ a b Volz, Matt (2008-09-18). "Palin's husband refuses to testify in probe". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
Preceded by
Nancy Murkowski
 First Spouse of Alaska
2006– 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Todd_Palin&oldid=239673199"