Todd Palin

Todd Palin
Palin at the 2010 Time 100 Gala
First Gentleman of Alaska
In office
December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009
Preceded by Nancy Murkowski
Succeeded by Sandra Parnell
Personal details
Born Todd Mitchell Palin
September 6, 1964
Dillingham, Alaska, U.S.
Spouse(s) Sarah Palin (m. 1988)
Children Track (b. 1989)
Bristol (b. 1990)
Willow (b. 1994)
Piper (b. 2001)
Trig (b. 2008)[1]
Residence Wasilla, Alaska
Alma mater Wasilla High School – (High school diploma, 1982)
Occupation Oil field production worker[2]
Commercial fisherman
Snowmobile racer
Religion Evangelical Christian

Todd Mitchell Palin (born September 6, 1964)[3] is an American oil field production operator, commercial fisherman and champion snowmobile racer, winning the Tesoro Iron Dog race four times. He is also the husband of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice-presidential nominee of the Republican Party.

Early life and education

Palin was born and raised in Dillingham, Alaska to James F. "Jim" and Blanche Palin (née Roberts).[4][5] Palin has Yup'ik (from a great-grandmother), Dutch, and English ancestry.[6][7]

In 1982, Palin graduated from Wasilla High School, which is the same alma mater of his wife and their eldest two children, son Track and daughter Bristol. He has taken some college courses but does not have a degree.[5]

Career

Palin was a union member and belonged to the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers).[8]

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 that related to his wife's position as governor, he took a leave[9] 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.[2][9] He resigned from his job on September 18, 2009, with the stated reason as a desire to spend more time with his family.[10]

He is also a commercial salmon fisherman at Bristol Bay on the Nushugak River.[5]

Public life

Voter registration

Palin first registered to vote in 1989. From October 1995 through July 2002, except for a few months in 2000, he was registered to vote as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party.[11] In late August 2008, The Politico reported that Palin was registered to vote as an independent (undeclared), and had never registered as a Republican.[12] In her memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life, Sarah Palin confirms this, writing, "My husband... isn't registered with any party, for sound reasons, having been an eyewitness to the idiosyncrasies of party machines."[13] Sarah Palin reaffirmed that Todd is not a registered Republican again in her February 6, 2010, keynote address to the national Tea Party convention in Nashville, Tennessee.[14]

Husband of the Governor of Alaska

Palin in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Palin was First Gentleman (or "First Dude," as he was often nicknamed) for two and a half years. Early on in that role, he encouraged young Alaskans who could not afford college to consider jobs in the oil and gas industry as an effective training ground, and advised the Governor on workforce development issues for the natural gas pipeline she supported.[15]

In February 2010, the state of Alaska released to msnbc.com reporter Bill Dedman about 1,200 e-mails, which totalled 3,000 pages, that Palin exchanged with state officials. Almost 250 additional ones were withheld by the state, under a claim that executive privilege extends to Palin as an unpaid adviser to the government.[16] Gregg Erickson, columnist for the Anchorage Daily News, said, in September 2008, that Palin "obviously plays an important role… I've seen him in the governor's office and I know that she's conducted interviews in the governor's office with him present."[17] The emails showed Palin discussing a wide range of activities: potential board appointees, constituent complaints, use of the state jet, oil and gas production, marine regulation, gas pipeline bids, wildfires, native Alaskan issues, the state effort to save the Matanuska Maid dairy, budget planning, potential budget vetoes, oil shale leasing, "strategy for responding to media allegations," staffing at the mansion, pier diem payments to the governor for travel, "strategy for responding to questions about pregnancy," potential cuts to the governor's staff, "confidentiality issues," Bureau of Land Management land transfers and trespass issues and requests to the U.S. transportation secretary.[18][19]

Other

As of late 2009, Palin was a community volunteer who worked in youth sports, coached hockey and basketball.[20] He was a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska pageant.[21]

In August 2012, Palin became a contestant on the NBC celebrity reality competition series Stars Earn Stripes.[22]

Champion snowmobile racer

Palin is a four-time champion of the Tesoro Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmobile race,[15][23] which 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.[15] His racing teammate is Scott Davis, with whom he won in 2007.[24] He has previously raced with Dusty Van Meter in the race, and they were co-champions in 2000 and 2002.[25] In 1995, Palin partnered with Dwayne Drake for his first win.[25]

In 2008, 400 miles (640 km) from defending his Tesoro Iron Dog championship, he was injured and broke his arm[26] when he was thrown 70 feet[27] from his machine.[28] He was sent to the hospital but managed to finish in fourth place.[29]

Personal life

In August 1988, Palin eloped with his high school girlfriend, Sarah Heath.[30] 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);[31] Willow Bianca Faye (b. 1994); Piper Indy Grace (b. 2001);[15] and Trig Paxson Van (b. April 2008), who has Down syndrome;[32][33][34] and two grandchildren: Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born in 2008 in Palmer, Alaska, to Bristol and Levi Johnston[35] and Kyla Grace Palin, who was born to son Track and his wife, Britta, in 2011.

Palin fishes and holds a Private Pilot Certificate.[36][37] He also owns his own aircraft, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub.[38]

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.[39]

In 2012 film Game Change, Todd is portrayed by actor David Barry Gray.

Public Safety Commissioner controversy

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.[40][41][42] At one point, Todd Palin brought information prepared by himself and a private investigator to Monegan.[40]

On September 12, 2008, the Alaska Legislature subpoenaed Palin to testify on his role in the controversy.[43] On September 18, the McCain/Palin campaign announced that Todd Palin would refuse to testify because he does not believe the investigation is legitimate.[44] 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.[44]

On October 10, 2008, Palin was cited in special investigator Stephen Branchflower's report[45] to the Legislative Council. One of Branchflower's four main findings was that Governor Palin violated Alaska's Ethics Act when she "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."[46][47] Blanchflower also states: "Todd Palin is not an employee of the (Alaska) executive branch, so his conduct is not a violation of (the Ethics Act)." and " . . . I make no finding as to Mr. Palin's conduct.".[48]

References

  1. ↑ New York Times staff. "Times Topics, People, Sarah Palin". Biography. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Palin carved her own path in Alaska – International Herald Tribune". iht.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  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. ↑ "What's Palin's Record on Native Issues?". Reznet. September 2, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lee, Jeannette J. (27 May 2007). "Todd Palin unique among nation's 5 first husbands". Anchorage Daily News (AP). Retrieved 29 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Cooper, Carolyn Kraemer (2011). Sarah Palin: A Biography. ABC-CLIO. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-313-37738-9.
  7. ↑ http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/10/21/54512/even-if-palin-werent-running-thisd.html
  8. ↑ Kizzia, Tom (2008-08-29). "In Alaska, Palin known for battling against long odds". McClatchy Newspapers. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yardley, William (2008-08-29). "Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ Tapper, Jake (2008-09-02). "Todd Palin, Longtime Former AIP Member". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  12. ↑ Vogel, Kenneth (2008-08-29). "Palin’s hubby and son not Republicans". The Politico. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  13. ↑ Palin, Sarah. Going Rogue: An American Life. HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2009, p. 384.
  14. ↑ "Sarah Palin Keynote Speech at National Tea Party Convention". YouTube. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Lee, Jeanette (2007-05-06). "‘First dude’ probably doesn’t host many teas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  16. ↑ Dedman, Bill (2009-02-07). "Palin e-mails reveal a powerful 'first dude'". msnbc.com. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  17. ↑ Mike Madden, "Sarah Palin's powerful "First Dude", Salon magazine, September 2008
  18. ↑ Bill Dedman (February 5, 2010). "Palin e-mails reveal a powerful 'first dude'; In Sarah Palin administration, her spouse was active in state business". msnbc.com.
  19. ↑ The e-mails are available in an online searchable database from msnbc.com.
  20. ↑ "National Governors Association". nga.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  21. ↑ "Miss Alaska Scholarship Pageant". Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  22. ↑ de Moraes, Lisa (June 19, 2012). "Todd Palin among those competing in NBC's reality series 'Stars Earn Stripes'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  23. ↑ Fritze, John (2008-08-29). "Friends: VP choice has 'very strong' values". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  24. ↑ "Todd Palin: Featured First Husband". snowweek.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Tesoro Iron Dog". irondog.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  26. ↑ Mowry, Tim (2008-02-18). "Despite broken arm, First Dude crosses Iron Dog finish in fourth". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  27. ↑ Medred, Craig (2008-02-15). "Todd Palin crashes in Iron Dog". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  28. ↑ "Todd Palin receives minor injuries near Iron Dog checkpoint". ktuu.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  29. ↑ "Tesoro Iron Dog". irondog.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  30. ↑ Grier, Peter (August 30, 2008). "Sarah Palin, McCain’s pick, forged maverick political path in Alaska". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  31. ↑ Quinn, State of Alaska. "3PA-07-08535MO State of Alaska vs. Palin, Bristol S". Alaska Trial Court Cases. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  32. ↑ "Mahalo facts on Trig Palin".
  33. ↑ "Welcome to Alaska, Trig Paxson Van Palin". ktuu.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  34. ↑ "Alaska governor gives birth to 5th child, a boy named Trig". bostonherald.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  35. ↑ Benet, Lorenzo (2008-12-29). "Bristol Palin Welcomes a Son". People Magazine. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  36. ↑ "National Governors Association". nga.org. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  37. ↑ "FAA Registry: Airmen Certification Inquiry". FAA. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  38. ↑ "FAA Registry: N-Number Inquiry". FAA. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  39. ↑ Thornburgh, Nathan (September 2, 2008). "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record – TIME". Time.com. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Monegan to Palin: 'Ma'am, I Need to Keep You at Arm's Length' – Washington Post Investigations". Voices.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  41. ↑ Michael Luo (August 29, 2008). "Investigators Are Looking at Governor About Firing". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  42. ↑ Philip Sherwell and Tim Shipman (August 30, 2008). "Sarah Palin poses 'Troopergate' risk to John McCain's US election bid". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  43. ↑ Yardley, William (September 13, 2008). "Active Role for Palin’s Husband in Alaska Government". New York Times.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Volz, Matt (2008-09-18). "Palin's husband refuses to testify in probe". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  45. ↑ Stephen Blanchflower Report to the Legislative Council Alaska Legislature, pdf download. Oct. 10, 2008. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  46. ↑ "Troopergate Report: Palin Abused Power". Abcnews.go.com. 2008-10-11. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  47. ↑ Blanchflower Report, p. 66
  48. ↑ Blanchflower Report, p. 68

External links

Honorary titles
Preceded by
Nancy Murkowski		 First Gentleman of Alaska
December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009 		Succeeded by
Sandra Parnell
Preceded by
Lynne Cheney		 Spouse of the Republican Vice-Presidential Nominee
2008 		Succeeded by
Janna Ryan