Governor Palin 4 President

Republicans & Democrats across Alaska are lining up to run for governor amid speculation that Governor Palin will not seek reelection in 2010. No candidate has yet filed papers with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Governor Palin’s office declined an opportunity to explain her thinking on the 2010 race, & the Republican Governors Association said it would not comment on discussions it has had with the governor.

But a number of Democrats and Republicans in Alaska & Washington who spoke to POLITICO believe her silence is a sign she will not pursue a 2nd term as governor so that she can play a larger role on the national political stage. At least 3 Democrats & 6 Republicans are mulling over runs as they wait on the governor to make her decision.

“There is nothing that she has done that leads me to believe she will seek reelection,” said Andrew Halcro, a former Republican state legislator who ran for governor as an independent candidate in 2006 and is weighing another run. “If you’re Palin, once you’ve flown first class, you don’t go back to coach. She’s been to the show & certainly seemed to like it there.”

“I have no doubt in my mind that, barring some unforeseen collapse on the national stage, she won’t seek reelection,” he added. “We don’t think she’s running,” said a Washington-based Democratic operative who is closely watching the gubernatorial race. “[There is a] 50-50 chance she runs for governor,” said a former Palin staffer involved in state Republican politics, noting, “If Sarah Palin has proven anything in her career, it’s that she is full of surprises.”

The governor has not publicly committed one way or another, telling CNN two weeks ago that she is not “going to do anything yet.” “What I’m trying to get done for Alaska right now is to get that Alaska gas line built,” she said. “We need those energy sources flowing through North America. That’s what my focus is.”

“It’s going to be basically impossible to know what the governor is going to do,” said one potential Democratic candidate. “There is no upside for her in announcing early. She can raise all the money she wants.” Many of those who spoke to POLITICO speculated that Palin is likely to announce her intentions next spring, around the time she begins traveling the country as part of her expected book tour.

“If she files for reelection, the race is over, period. There is not a Republican or Democrat who can challenge her,” said the former Palin staffer. “If she doesn’t run, it’s a free-for-all.”
If Palin does decide to seek another term, questions about her national aspirations will be central to the campaign. “Whether you want to call it running for president or not, she’s doing it,” said the former Palin staffer. “If she runs for governor, though, she is going to have to answer the question: Are you going to get elected & then take off for Iowa?”

Full Article At:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24051.html#ixzz0JIF2umUl&D

Anchorage, AK – Governor Palin today made appointments to the Alaska Children’s Trust Board, Marine Transportation Advisory Board, Municipal Bond Bank Authority & State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board.

Alaska Children’s Trust Board
The Governor appointed Ramona M. Reeves & reappointed Margaret A. Volz to the Alaska Children’s Trust Board.
The 7-member board seeks to prevent child abuse & neglect in the state by awarding grants from the Alaska Children’s Trust’s net income to community-based programs, by applying for private & federal grants, & by soliciting contributions to the Trust. Reeves was appointed to a public seat. Volz has served on the board since 2007 & was reappointed to a public seat.

Marine Transportation Advisory Board
The Governor appointed Seth D. Church & Patrick A. Owen to the Marine Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB).
The 11-member board advises the state on issues related to the AK Marine Highway System, the state’s ferry service. Board members work with the Department of Transportation to prepare a strategic plan for the ferry system that includes objectives, initiatives & performance goals, consults with the transportation commissioner on appointing the ferry system’s director, & makes recommendations regarding state ferry service to The Governor & transportation commissioner. Church was appointed to an at-large seat on MTAB, & is one of 2 members residing in a community not directly served by the state ferry system. Owen was appointed to a seat reserved for a current or retired ferry employee & member of a union representing ferry workers.

Municipal Bond Bank Authority
The Governor appointed Gregory J. Gursey to the Municipal Bond Bank Authority board of directors.
The Authority is a public corporation, established in state law to help local governments finance capital projects. Its 5-member board borrows money & issues bonds & notes to make capital funds available for borrowing by Anchorage municipalities, & in turn receives bonds & notes from Alaska municipalities. Gursey was appointed to a public seat on the Bond Bank board.

State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board
The Governor appointed Dr. Darin M. Bell to the State Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Board.
The 5-member board serves as the state’s licensing board for physical & occupational therapists, issuing licenses, taking disciplinary action against those who violate licensing laws & issuing regulations covering therapists. Bell was appointed to a physician’s seat on the board.

Full Article At:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1921

Anchorage, AK – Governor Palin today welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Kensington mine, a gold mining project near Juneau.

Today’s ruling reversed a decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals & confirmed the validity of a previously issued permit from the Corps of Engineers for disposal of tailings. The project is being developed by Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation.

The state supported Coeur’s legal efforts to move the project ahead at every level of court review, including intervening in the lawsuit at the outset, litigating the case in the 9th Circuit, filing a petition asking for review by the Supreme Court, & briefing the case in the Supreme Court on the merits.

Even securing Supreme Court review was an uphill battle, because the federal government itself, whose permit the 9th Circuit had invalidated, did not seek review. Only the State of Alaska and Coeur filed petitions.

In addition, the case involved complex issues of how to interpret and apply the federal Clean Water Act, issues which led the Supreme Court to take the unusual step of ordering the parties to file supplemental briefs a few weeks ago.

“This is great news for Alaska,” The Governor said. “Today’s ruling is a green light for responsible resource development. Kensington will produce as many as 370 well-paying jobs. We truly appreciate Coeur’s tenacity in pursuing the project & its dedication to hiring Alaskans to work at the mine.”

The state will continue to provide support through the Department of Labor’s workforce training and apprenticeship programs.

The Kensington mine is located 45 miles northwest of Juneau. Couer estimates the mine will be brought into production by the second half of 2010. The mine is expected to produce as many as 150,000 ounces of gold per year during its early stages of operation. Over the life of the mine, Kensington is expected to yield more than 1 million ounces of gold.

Governor Perry had harsh words for Republicans in Washington, projected confidence that Republicans can make a comeback in 2010, questioned why Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison would challenge him in the primary race for governor, and talked about Governor Palin's endorsement of his campaign.

Clearly, Governor Perry is proud of his record as governor, and his talking points reflect that. During our interview, he often guided the conversation toward his record as governor of the Lone Star State. For example, he told me:
We continued to cut taxes ... to pass the most sweeping tort reform in the nation in 2003 ... we balanced our budget, we left $9 billion in our rainy day fund, we passed the most sweeping eminent domain for private property owners in the history of the state ... We did all that with a recession going on.

To buttress his argument, Perry cited several magazines and awards, listing Texas at the top of the list, in terms of the state's pro-business climate. Perry is quick to contrast his leadership record in Texas -- not just with other states -- but with Republicans in Washington, too. No doubt, this has something to do with the fact that his primary opponent has spent years in Washington as a U.S. Senator.

As Perry noted... Washington, DC has been an abject failure -- even back under Republican leadership. They spent too much money, they lost touch with their values, and they paid a hefty price. And America is now paying a heavy price for their lack of discipline, as this administration is over-reaching, spending our children's inheritance, and jeopardizing their future. Yet Perry is bullish over the GOP's chances in 2010. "... I think there may be a great opportunity in 2010," he told me, "that this country swings back and swings back hard and fast to those conservative principles that we know work." He went on to add that, "in the state of Texas, we never got away from them, and I don't think Texans want to make a change."

Perry reminded me he has been endorsed by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, whom he described as a "close personal friend" who "knows my heart." He also noted that, "If there's a bigger endorsement in the Republican universe, I don't know who it is than Sarah."

Full Article At:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/06/20/rick-perry-no-bigger-endorsement-in-the-republican-universe/