Sarah Palin got her start in politics in 1992 when she was encouraged to run for city assembly in Wasilla. At the time, the city administrator (recently retired) of my little town, John Stein, was mayor of Wasilla and had encouraged Sarah to run for city assembly.
Flip the page and find out how Palin unseated Stein and moved into Alaska state politics....
Palin set her sites on the mayoral seat and ran twice before being elected. In the following interview on KCAW-FM in Sitka, Stein recounts how the race quickly devolved into a "pro choice" "anti abortion" debate. Follow the link and click Stein: Palin a GOP prospect on Wasilla council to hear the story of how anti abortion activists helped unseat Stein who had served as mayor from 1985 to 1996.
The traditional media is buying into the Palin as maverick meme and to some degree she is, but the reality is, she is nothing more than a bone thrown to the fundimentalist christian wing of the GOP. But underestimate Sarah Palin at your peril. She has upset the Republican orthodoxy here in Alaska and if handled well she could do so on the national stage.
Something that hasn't been discussed is how Palin's coattails may very likely throw a life buoy to Ted Stevens and Don Young. Palin is still very popular in the state and a large turnout by Republicans in the general election could spell problems for challengers Mark Begich and Ethan Berkowitz. For more in depth reporting from Alaska on these issues I encourage you to go to APRN and listen to news stories from Alaska reporters.