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Todd Palin

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Todd Palin
First Gentleman of Alaska
In office
December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009
Preceded byNancy Murkowski
Succeeded bySandra Parnell
Personal details
Born (1964-09-06) September 6, 1964 (age 59)
Dillingham, Alaska
SpouseSarah Palin (1988)
RelationsJames and Blanche Palin
ChildrenTrack, Bristol, Willow, Piper, Trig
ResidenceWasilla, Alaska
Alma materUniversity of Alaska
Occupationoil field production worker[1]
Commercial fisherman
Snowmobile Racer

Todd Mitchell Palin (born September 6, 1964)[2] is an American oil field production operator, former champion snowmobile racer who won the Tesoro Iron Dog four times, and a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska pageant. He is the husband of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice-presidential nominee of the Republican Party.

Early life

Todd Palin was born in Dillingham, Alaska, to James F. "Jim" Palin and his first wife, Blanche (Roberts) Kallstrom.[3] His father, a native of Seattle, Washington,[4] is a former general manager of Matanuska Electrical Association.[5] His mother, a former secretary of the Alaska Federation of Natives, is one-quarter Yup'ik, and his maternal grandmother, Helena (Bartman) Andree, is a member of the Curyung tribe.[6]

Palin is a graduate of Wasilla High School, which was the same alma mater of his wife and eldest daughter Bristol. He has taken some college courses but does not have a degree.[3]

Career

Palin was a union member belonging to the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers).[7]

For eighteen 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[8] from his job as production supervisor when his employer became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with his wife's administration.[3] 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.[8][1] He resigned from his job on September 18, 2009, with the stated reason of spending more time with his family.[9]

He is also a commercial salmon fisherman at Bristol Bay on the Nushugak River.[3] Financial statements filed in 2007 show that Palin earned $92,790 from BP and fishing.[4]

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.[10] In late August 2008, The Politico reported that Palin was registered to vote as an independent (undeclared), and had never registered as a Republican.[11] In early September 2008, a spokesman for John McCain said Palin was now a registered Republican.[12] In her memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life, Sarah Palin contradicts this, writing, "My husband... isn't registered with any party, for sound reasons, having been an eyewitness to the idiosyncracies of party machines."

When he was First Gentleman (or "First Dude," as he was often nicknamed), Palin 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.[13] He is a community volunteer working in youth sports, coaching hockey and basketball.[14]

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."[15]

Palin was a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska pageant.[16]

Champion snowmobile racer

Palin is a four-time champion of the Tesoro Iron Dog snowmobile race.[13] This race is the world's longest[17] and traces the path of the Iditarod race with an extra journey of several hundred miles to Fairbanks added.

Palin has competed in the Tesoro every year since 1993.[13] His racing teammate is Scott Davis, with whom he won in 2007.[18] He has previously raced with Dusty Van Meter in the race, and they were co-champions in 2000 and 2002.[19] In 1995, Palin partnered with Dwayne Drake for his first win.[19]

In 2008, 400 miles (640 km) from defending his Tesoro Iron Dog championship, he was injured and broke his arm[20] when he was thrown 70 feet[21] from his machine.[22] He was sent to the hospital but managed to finish in fourth place.[23]

Family life

In 1988, Palin eloped with his high school sweetheart, Sarah Palin (Then Sarah Louise Heath).[24] The Palins have five children: Track Charles James (b. 1989), who has enlisted in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq on September 11, 2008; Bristol Sheeran Marie (b. 1990);[25] Willow Bianca Faye (b. 1995); Piper Indy Grace (b. 2001);[13] and Trig Paxson Van (b. 2008), who has Down syndrome;[26][27][28] and one grandchild: Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born in 2008 in Palmer, Alaska, to Bristol and her former boyfriend, Levi Johnston.[29]

Palin fishes and holds a Private Pilot Certificate.[30][31] He also owns his own aircraft, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub.[32]

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 Dianne M. Keller, a candidate endorsed by Sarah Palin.[33]

Involvement in controversy

Main article: Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal

Todd Palin's name has appeared in news reports regarding the firing of Commissioner Walt Monegan and the actions of Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten.[34][35][36] At one point, Todd Palin brought information prepared by himself and a private investigator to Monegan.[34]

On September 12, 2008, the Alaska Legislature subpoenaed Palin to testify on his role in the controversy.[37] On September 18, the McCain/Palin campaign announced that Todd Palin would refuse to testify because he does not believe the investigation is legitimate.[38] State senator Bill Wielechowski said that the witnesses could not be punished for disobeying the subpoenas until the full legislature comes into session, then scheduled to be in January 2009.[38]

On October 10, Palin was cited in special investigator Steve Branchflower's report to the Legislative Council. One of Branchflower's four main findings was that Governor Palin had "wrongfully permitted Todd Palin to use the governor's office...to continue to contact subordinate state employees in an effort to find some way to get Trooper Wooten fired."[39]

References

  1. ^ a b "Palin carved her own path in Alaska - International Herald Tribune". Iht.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  2. ^ Martin, Jonathan (2008-09-06). "Todd Palin: A celebrity in his own right". Jonathan Martin's Blog. Politico.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b Hal Bernton. "Nation & World | Palin's swift rise wins both admirers, enemies | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  5. ^ "Tri-Borough mayors Call for State Energy Policy" (PDF). Tri-Borough Commission. 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  6. ^ Rhoades, Karen (October 11, 2006). "Sarah Palin on Native people". SitNews. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  7. ^ Kizzia, Tom (2008-08-29). "In Alaska, Palin known for battling against long odds". McClatchy Newspapers. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  8. ^ a b Yardley, William (2008-08-29). "Sarah Heath Palin, an Outside Who Charms". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  9. ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ht1Axjpo0Op5ZVVqQYDAdDH55e4wD9B3745G1
  10. ^ Tapper, Jack (2008-09-02). "Todd Palin, Longtime Former AIP Member". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  11. ^ Vogel, Kenneth (2008-08-29). "Palin's hubby and son not Republicans". The Politico. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  12. ^ 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…"
  13. ^ a b c d Lee, Jeanette (2007-05-06). "'First dude' probably doesn't host many teas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  14. ^ "National Governors Association". nga.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  15. ^ Mike Madden, "Sarah Palin's powerful "First Dude", Salon magazine, September 2008
  16. ^ "Miss Alaska Scholarship Pageant". Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  17. ^ Fritze, John (2008-08-29). "Friends: VP choice has 'very strong' values". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  18. ^ "Todd Palin: Featured First Husband". snowweek.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  19. ^ a b "Tesoro Iron Dog". irondog.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  20. ^ Mowry, Tim (2008-02-18). "Despite broken arm, First Dude crosses Iron Dog finish in fourth". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  21. ^ Medred, Craig (2008-02-15). "Todd Palin crashes in Iron Dog". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  22. ^ "Todd Palin receives minor injuries near Iron Dog checkpoint". ktuu.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  23. ^ "Tesoro Iron Dog". irondog.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  24. ^ Grier, Peter (August 30, 2008). "Sarah Palin, McCain's pick, forged maverick political path in Alaska". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2008-09-24. {{cite news}}: Text "title" ignored (help)
  25. ^ Quinn, State of Alaska. "3PA-07-08535MO State of Alaska vs. Palin, Bristol S". Alaska Trial Court Cases. Retrieved 2008-09-03. {{cite web}}: Text "1" ignored (help)
  26. ^ "Mahalo facts on Trig Palin".
  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. ^ Benet, Lorenzo (2008-12-29). "Bristol Palin Welcomes a Son". People Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ "National Governors Association". nga.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  31. ^ "FAA Regsitry: Airmen Certification Inquiry". FAA. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  32. ^ "FAA Registry: N-Number Inquiry". FAA. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  33. ^ Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2008 By NATHAN THORNBURGH / WASILLA, ALASKA (September 2, 2008). "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record - TIME". Time.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ Michael Luo (August 29, 2008). "Investigators Are Looking at Governor About Firing". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Yardley, William (September 13, 2008). "Active Role for Palin's Husband in Alaska Government". New York Times.
  38. ^ a b Volz, Matt (2008-09-18). "Palin's husband refuses to testify in probe". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  39. ^ Troopergate Report: Palin Abused Power
Honorary titles
Preceded by First Gentleman of Alaska
December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009 		Succeeded by
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