Brief Background of Sarah Palin

Many of us probably did not know anything about Sara Palin (born February 11, 1964) , but that has been changing. Most of us have already heard that she is a "soccer mom" and was in the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), that she attended Wasilla High School in Alaska and was a basketball star for the school (1982). It was at this school that she received the nickname "Sarah Barracuda", but this was for her aggressive basketball play. She has also hunted moose in Alaska with her father.

In 1984 she won the Miss Wasilla Pageant and later became a runner up in the Miss Alaska pageant. She won a college scholarship and a "Miss Congeniality" award which is certainly different from being "Sarah Barracuda". She moved from college to college: attending Hawaii Pacific College, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College, and the University of Idaho again to complete her degree in communications-journalism graduating in 1987. She was a sports reporter (1987), helped in her family fishing business, and became the Mayor of Wasilla. She also served a term on the Wasilla city council and then a second term. In 1996 she either eliminated some positions or accepted resignations from some Wasilla directors and employees. She did for a time require department heads to get her approval before talking to the media. She hired a new city administrator, reduced her own salary by $4,000 but does get some other benefits. She has hired lobbyists for earmarked projects for Wasilla, was appointed to the Alaskan Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (2003), and became the governor of Alaska at the age of 42. Most of us now know she is the running mate for Senator McCain (2008).

There are many gaps in this brief outline that would be important to review. With a large family it will be important to review how she divides her time between her public and private duties. This is true for any candidate. An army of reporters are now looking at every detail of her life and the decisions she has made along the way. Every politician will make some errors in judgment along the way and her past decisions are now being reviewed in detail. It remains to be seen what will be the outcome of perhaps the most researched vice-presidential candidate ever to run for office.

The time is short between now and the election and everyone needs to do their research. It ever there was an election that required all Americans to study the candidates in more detail, this looks like the time. Without doubt Senator McCain has created a world-wide frenzy to learn about his choice. This election may have a record turnout of voters.