Miscellaneous
Sarah Palin is a former Mayor, Governor, Alaska Oil and Gas Commission Chair, and Vice Presidential candidate. Having started her political career in small-town Alaska politics, Palin was jettisoned to the national stage in 2008 when Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain chose her as his running mate. Palin was born in 1972 to two teachers in Idaho before her family moved to Wasilla, Alaska. She got her start in politics in 1992 when she successfully ran for Wasilla City Council. Palin later successfully ran for Mayor on a pro-tax reform platform. As Mayor, she kept her promise by introducing a 2% sales tax and cutting property tax by 75%. Additionally, she proposed the construction of a municipal sports complex. Towards the end of her term, she was the subject of multiple ethics investigations, nearly all of which were dismissed. These investigations, according to her administration, had over-burdened her and kept her from doing the job the people of Alaska elected her to do. In 2008, then-Republican candidate Senator John McCain asked Sarah to visit his Sedona home, where he offered her the position of Vice-Presidential candidate. On the campaign trail, she proved to be a conservative firebrand, railing against the system and the mainstream media. However, she struggled in one-on-one interviews when interviewers asked nuanced policy questions. This lead to many speculate on McCain’s choice and if she cost him the election. Since 2008, Palin has continued her firebrand campaign-style, campaigning for Tea Party candidates around the country, most recently for-then candidate Donald Trump.