Todd Palin Explained

Todd Palin
Birth Name:Todd Mitchell Palin
Birth Date:1964 9, mf=yes
Birth Place:Dillingham, Alaska, U.S.
Occupation:Oil field production worker
Commercial fisherman
Snowmachine racer
Order1:First Gentleman of Alaska
Governor1:Sarah Palin
Term Label1:In role
Term Start1:December 4, 2006
Term End1:July 26, 2009
Predecessor1:Nancy Murkowski
Successor1:Sandra Parnell
Office2:First Gentleman of Wasilla
Term Label2:In role
1Blankname2:Mayor
1Namedata2:Sarah Palin
Term Start2:October 14, 1996
Term End2:October 14, 2002
Children:5, including Bristol[1]
Residence:Wasilla, Alaska, U.S.
Party:Independent
Otherparty:Alaska Independence (1995–2002)

Todd Mitchell Palin (born September 6, 1964)[2] is an American businessman who was the first gentleman of Alaska from 2006 to 2009. He is the former husband of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee with John McCain.

Early life and education

Palin was born and raised in Dillingham, Alaska to James F. "Jim" and Blanche Palin (née Roberts).[3] [4] Palin has Yup'ik, Dutch, and English ancestry.[5] [6] His grandmother Lena Andree was the daughter of a Dutch-American father and a Yup'ik mother and she grew up speaking both English and Yup'ik. Andree grew up in the now abandoned community of Tuklung in a mixed race region of Bristol Bay and was a member of an Alaska Native corporation, but was not an enrolled citizen of any tribe. Palin is not actively involved in Native politics or any Native organizations, but receives dividends from the Bristol Bay Native Corporation. His blood quantum is one-eighth and that of his children is one-sixteenth. Because he is a non-enrolled lineal descendant of an enrolled Alaska Native (his great-grandmother), he and his children are eligible for health benefits under federal law through the 1970 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.[7] Tuklung was consolidated into the Manokotak Village, a federally recognized tribe.[8]

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 did not complete a degree.[4]

Career

Palin was a union member and belonged to the United Steelworkers union.[9]

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 from his job as production supervisor, when his employer became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with his wife's administration. 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.[10] [11] He resigned from his job on September 18, 2009, with the stated reason as a desire to spend more time with his family.[12]

He is also a commercial salmon fisherman at Bristol Bay on the Nushugak River.[4]

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.[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] His wife, Sarah, confirmed that he is not registered with any party both in her 2009 memoir, , and in a Q&A session following a 2010 address to a national convention of the Tea Party in Nashville, Tennessee.[15] [16]

First gentleman of Alaska

Palin was the first gentleman, or "first dude," as he was often nicknamed,[17] for two and a half years, from 2006 to 2009. 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.[18]

In February 2010, the state of Alaska released to msnbc.com reporter Bill Dedman about 1,200 e-mails, which totaled 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.[19] 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".[20] 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, per 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.[21] [22]

Other

As of late 2009, Palin was a community volunteer who worked in youth sports, coaching hockey and basketball.[23] He was a judge in the 2008 Miss Alaska pageant.[24]

In August 2012, Palin became a contestant on the NBC celebrity reality competition series Stars Earn Stripes.[25]

Thoroughbred racehorse First Dude, named after Palin's nickname, finished second at the 2010 Preakness Stakes and won the 2011 Hollywood Gold Cup.

Champion snowmachine racer

Palin is a four-time champion of the Tesoro Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmachine race,[18] [26] 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.[18] His racing teammate is Scott Davis, with whom he won in 2007.[27] He has previously raced with Dusty Van Meter in the race, and they were co-champions in 2000 and 2002.[28] In 1995, Palin partnered with Dwayne Drake for his first win.[28]

In 2008, while defending his Tesoro Iron Dog championship, he was injured and broke his arm 400miles from the finish line [29] when he was thrown 70 feet[30] from his machine.[31] He was sent to the hospital but managed to finish in fourth place.[32]

In 2016, trying for another Tesoro Iron Dog championship, he was forced to scratch at checkpoint Nenana, 112 miles from the finish, when partner Shane Barber suffered engine trouble.[33]

In March 2016, Palin was seriously injured in a snowmachine crash, suffering a collapsed lung, fractured ribs, and a broken clavicle and shoulder blade.[34]

Public Safety commissioner controversy

See main article: Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal. Palin's name has appeared in news reports regarding the firing of commissioner Walt 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, then scheduled to be in January 2009.[39]

On October 10, 2008, Palin was cited in special investigator Stephen Branchflower's report[40] to the Legislative Council. One of Branchflower's four main findings was that the governor had 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".[41] [42] Todd Palin's conduct was not assessed in the report, as he was not an executive branch employee.[43]

Personal life

In August 1988, Palin eloped with his high-school girlfriend Sarah Heath.[44] 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);[45] Willow Bianca Faye (b. 1994); Piper Indy Grace (b. 2001);[18] and Trig Paxson Van (b. 2008), who has Down syndrome;[46] [47] [48] they also have nine grandchildren.[49]

Palin fishes and holds a Private Pilot Certificate.[50] [51] He also owns his own aircraft, a Piper PA-18 Super Cub.[52]

Palin's stepmother, Faye Palin, ran unsuccessfully in 2002 for the position of mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, to succeed Palin's wife, 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.[53]

Palin filed for divorce from Sarah on August 29, 2019, citing "incompatibility of temperament".[54] The divorce was finalized on March 23, 2020.[55] [56]

Notes and References

  1. News: Times Topics, People, Sarah Palin . New York Times staff. Biography . May 30, 2010.
  2. News: Todd Palin: A celebrity in his own right. Martin. Jonathan. September 6, 2008. Jonathan Martin's Blog. Politico.com. September 7, 2008.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20081015133727/http://www.reznetnews.org/article/whats-palins-record-native-issues-19840 "What's Palin's Record on Native Issues?"
  4. News: Todd Palin unique among nation's 5 first husbands . Lee . Jeannette J. . May 27, 2007 . Anchorage Daily News (AP) . August 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080612003814/http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/story/8924080p-8824177c.html . June 12, 2008 .
  5. Book: Cooper, Carolyn Kraemer. Sarah Palin: A Biography. 2011. ABC-CLIO. 978-0-313-37738-9. 32.
  6. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/10/21/54512/even-if-palin-werent-running-thisd.html Even if Palin weren't running, this'd be a great Alaska tale | McClatchy DC
  7. Web site: Yup'ik ties give Palins unique Alaska connection . October 23, 2008 . . 2023-08-23.
  8. Web site: Bristol Bay Native Association . Bristol Bay Native Association . 2023-08-23.
  9. News: In Alaska, Palin known for battling against long odds . Kizzia, Tom . . August 29, 2008 . August 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080902235156/http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/29/CAMPAIGN_PALIN_odds.html . September 2, 2008 .
  10. Web site: Palin carved her own path in Alaska – International Herald Tribune . iht.com . September 2, 2008.
  11. News: Yardley . William. Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms . . August 29, 2008 . August 30, 2008.
  12. Web site: Todd Palin resigns from oil job. D'Oro. Rachel. October 8, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091007050341/https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ht1Axjpo0Op5ZVVqQYDAdDH55e4wD9B3745G1 . October 7, 2009.
  13. Web site: Tapper . Jake . Todd Palin, Longtime Former AIP Member. ABC News. September 2, 2008 . September 2, 2008.
  14. News: Kenneth . Vogel . Palin's hubby and son not Republicans . . August 29, 2008 . September 3, 2008 .
  15. Book: Palin . Sarah . Sarah Palin . November 17, 2009 . . . . 978-0-06-193989-1 . 384 . My husband ... isn't registered with any party, for sound reasons, having been an eyewitness to the idiosyncrasies of party machines .
  16. A C-SPAN video posted on YouTube of the address and Q&A following the address. The video was posted on February 6, 2010, and the quote about Todd Palin being registered to vote as an independent appears at 50:20 into the video
  17. News: Katie. Zernike. Todd Palin: 'First dude' and right-hand man . . September 3, 2008 . October 30, 2015.
  18. News: 'First dude' probably doesn't host many teas. Los Angeles Times. May 6, 2007. August 29, 2008. Lee . Jeanette.
  19. News: Palin e-mails reveal a powerful 'first dude'. https://web.archive.org/web/20130504133438/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35238034/. dead. May 4, 2013. NBC News. February 7, 2009. February 9, 2009. Dedman . Bill.
  20. Madden. Mike. "Sarah Palin's powerful "First Dude". https://web.archive.org/web/20080918014527/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/16/todd_palin/print.html. dead. September 18, 2008. September 2008. Salon.
  21. News: Palin e-mails reveal a powerful 'first dude'; In Sarah Palin administration, her spouse was active in state business . https://web.archive.org/web/20130504133438/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35238034/ . dead . May 4, 2013 . February 5, 2010 . Dedman. Bill. NBC News.
  22. The e-mails are available in an online searchable database from msnbc.com.
  23. Web site: National Governors Association . https://web.archive.org/web/20070217141856/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.1b395dd52847da4f9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=01de98218935f010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD . dead . February 17, 2007 . nga.org . August 29, 2008.
  24. Web site: Miss Alaska Scholarship Pageant . August 31, 2008.
  25. News: Todd Palin among those competing in NBC's reality series 'Stars Earn Stripes. Lisa. de Moraes. The Washington Post. June 19, 2012. July 6, 2012.
  26. News: Friends: VP choice has 'very strong' values . Fritze, John . . August 29, 2008 . August 29, 2008.
  27. Web site: Todd Palin: Featured First Husband . snowweek.com . August 29, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917004753/http://www.snowweek.com/output.cfm?id=1247725 . September 17, 2008 . dead .
  28. Web site: Tesoro Iron Dog . irondog.org . August 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080513122313/http://www.irondog.org/results/archives.htm . May 13, 2008 .
  29. News: Despite broken arm, First Dude crosses Iron Dog finish in fourth. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. August 30, 2008. February 18, 2008. Mowry, Tim. https://web.archive.org/web/20080831201018/http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/021808/sta_248201772.shtml. August 31, 2008. dead.
  30. News: Todd Palin crashes in Iron Dog. Anchorage Daily News. August 29, 2008. February 15, 2008. Medred, Craig. https://web.archive.org/web/20080902032347/http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/316352.html. September 2, 2008. dead.
  31. Web site: Todd Palin receives minor injuries near Iron Dog checkpoint . https://web.archive.org/web/20081227144119/http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7880854 . dead . December 27, 2008 . ktuu.com . August 29, 2008 .
  32. Web site: Tesoro Iron Dog . irondog.org . August 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080511164613/http://www.irondog.org/results/archives/historical.php . May 11, 2008 .
  33. Web site: NBC Nightly New Twitter Feed.
  34. http://www.wtsp.com/news/politics/todd-palin-suffers-has-collapsed-lung-fractured-ribs-after-crash/84245291 Todd Palin suffers collapsed lung, fractured ribs after crash
  35. News: Monegan to Palin: 'Ma'am, I Need to Keep You at Arm's Length' – Washington Post Investigations . Voices.washingtonpost.com . September 2, 2008.
  36. News: Investigators Are Looking at Governor About Firing . NYTimes.com . Michael Luo . August 29, 2008 . August 31, 2008.
  37. News: Sarah Palin poses 'Troopergate' risk to John McCain's US election bid . Telegraph . Philip Sherwell and Tim Shipman . August 30, 2008 . August 31, 2008 . London.
  38. News: Active Role for Palin's Husband in Alaska Government. New York Times. September 13, 2008. William. Yardley.
  39. News: Palin's husband refuses to testify in probe. Matt. Volz. Anchorage Daily News. September 18, 2008. September 18, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080919095549/http://www.adn.com/palin/story/530493.html. September 19, 2008. dead.
  40. https://web.archive.org/web/20081011024655/http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf Stephen Blanchflower Report to the Legislative Council
  41. Web site: Troopergate Report: Palin Abused Power . Abcnews.go.com . October 11, 2008 . November 16, 2010.
  42. Blanchflower Report, p. 66
  43. Blanchflower Report, p. 68
  44. News: Sarah Palin, McCain's pick, forged maverick political path in Alaska . https://web.archive.org/web/20080905002859/http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/01/sarah-palin-mccains-pick-forged-maverick-political-path-in-alaska/ . dead . September 5, 2008 . Grier . Peter . . August 30, 2008 . September 24, 2008 .
  45. Web site: 3PA-07-08535MO State of Alaska vs. Palin, Bristol S. https://web.archive.org/web/20090709105110/http://courtrecords.alaska.gov/pa/ep.urd/pamw2000.o_party_sum?44738506%7C1 . dead . July 9, 2009 . Alaska Trial Court Cases. Quinn, State of Alaska. September 3, 2008.
  46. Web site: Mahalo facts on Trig Palin.
  47. Web site: Welcome to Alaska, Trig Paxson Van Palin . https://web.archive.org/web/20080830025230/http://www.ktuu.com/global/story.asp?s=8194634 . dead . August 30, 2008 . ktuu.com . August 29, 2008 .
  48. Web site: Alaska governor gives birth to 5th child, a boy named Trig . https://web.archive.org/web/20080830053530/http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/west/view.bg?articleid=1088213 . dead . August 30, 2008 . . August 29, 2008 .
  49. Web site: November 19, 2019. Georgia. Slater. Sarah Palin's Daughter Willow Welcomes Twin Girls Banks and Blaise: 'We Are So in Love'. 2020-12-15. PEOPLE.com. en.
  50. Web site: National Governors Association . nga.org . August 29, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070627122329/http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.1b395dd52847da4f9d28aca9501010a0/?vgnextoid=01de98218935f010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD . June 27, 2007 .
  51. Web site: FAA Registry: Airmen Certification Inquiry . FAA . September 2, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527102608/https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/airmeninquiry/ . May 27, 2010 .
  52. Web site: FAA Registry: N-Number Inquiry . FAA . September 7, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120217034738/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/nnumsql.asp?NNumbertxt=8194D . February 17, 2012 .
  53. News: Mayor Palin: A Rough Record – TIME . https://web.archive.org/web/20080902200419/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837918,00.html . dead . September 2, 2008 . Time.com . Thornburgh, Nathan . September 2, 2008 . November 16, 2010.
  54. Web site: Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, files for divorce over 'incompatibility of temperament' . NBC News. September 9, 2019 . September 9, 2019.
  55. https://www.today.com/popculture/former-vp-candidate-sarah-palin-finalizes-divorce-records-show-t186142 "Former VP candidate Sarah Palin finalizes divorce, records show"
  56. Web site: Sarah Palin Finalizes Divorce from Todd Palin: Docket PEOPLE.com.

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