Community Perspective
Governor is in charge and on the job
Other governors pursued higher office in office
Published Sunday, October 5, 2008
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Stumble It!I’ve worked for every Alaska governor since Gov. Jay Hammond.
It is from this perspective that I want to comment on the unfounded claim that Gov. Palin has abdicated her gubernatorial responsibilities because of the presidential campaign.
At the outset, I want to assure your readers that the governor is most definitely in charge and that she is making decisions and participating in the public policy process, as she always has.
I won’t deny that this is made more difficult by the presidential campaign. However, we have compensated for the logistical difficulties in several ways.
There is regular dialog between the governor and me, as chief of staff, and the governor also speaks with other staffers and her cabinet as circumstances require.
I want to emphasize that the members of Gov. Palin’s administration are a team. The governor hired that team, and she trusts them to carry out her policy guidance. They have been doing precisely that, and have responded to the challenge of assisting her in providing good government to the people of Alaska.
I could cite many examples, but I will mention only a few just to make the point:
• Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell has made several appearances on behalf of the governor and is also meeting with interest groups and concerned residents to discuss their views on pending issues.
• The annual process of formulating the state budget has begun. The director of the Office of Management and Budget has been meeting individually with commissioners and staff in preparation for presentations to Gov. Palin in November.
• The governor has made several important personnel decisions, including the appointment of the new commissioner of public safety and the deputy commissioner of education and early childhood development.
• She provided guidance to the Department of Revenue that led to an expedited schedule for release of the Permanent Fund Dividend and energy rebate.
Gov. Palin is not the first governor to seek higher office while continuing to perform the responsibilities for which she was elected originally. Govs. Clinton and George W. Bush did the same thing, as have several members of Congress.
It wasn’t easy for them, and I won’t say that it is easy now. But, in Alaska’s case, it can be done, and it is being done.
I believe that Alaskans should be proud that Gov. Palin is on the national ticket. However, there is another aspect that should not be overlooked.
The national campaign has given the governor a platform to talk about Alaska and to explain the role we can play in furthering the national interest. For example, she has discussed our capacity and willingness to provide our bountiful oil, natural gas, and minerals to a nation that so badly needs them.
In summary, the governor and her team continue to provide the high-quality government which Alaskans expect and have every right to demand. Though not always easy, this will continue.
Mike Nizich is chief of staff to Gov. Sarah Palin.
Community Discussion
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Spoken like a true sheep of the flock that wants to make sure he keeps working in the governmental sector. Who do you think you're fooling? There are a few independent thinkers in this State and we just aren't convenced yet.
Quite frankly. With all due respect. You can have her back at any point or time.
The sooner the better.
Who is paying her per diem while she is on the campaign trail and away from Alaska? Nizich seeks to assure us that Palin is "in charge and on the job," but he doesn't explain how much of her salary she is drawing while she is skipping work. Most of the examples he gives are of her subordinates doing her work for her. We are paying her to be our governor, not the Republican VP nominee. If her staff is doing her work, then she should not be drawing the governor's salary, but instead should take an unpaid leave of absence. Perhaps she should donate the salary she has already earned to charity. Just to appear ethical, doncha know.
Read the other letter on this topic...
"McCain Camp Occupies Alaska"
It has ACTUAL facts in it, unlike this one which claims Sarah is doing things, but then lists only stuff done either BEFORE her VP nomination or things that her staffers are doing in her absence.
We know that she immediately surrounds herself with blind sheep when she takes an office. So, this letter, while extremely misleading and disappointing, is no surprise...
Well put, Mr. Nizich. We ought to be proud and grateful for our governor. Thank you for reminding us.
Go Sarah!!
"Hey John, did I say all the right things in my article? Did I? I sure hope I didn't miss anything that you wanted me to say about how your campaign is running Alaska" - Mike Nizich
It's certainly good to read the untainted truth from someone as objective and...uh...er..ubiased as...uhh...Mr. Nizich who, after all, is just her chief of staff and can therefore present things in a proper...er..um..perspective for...
HAAAAAAA!
I'm sorry, but I just had to stop and laugh. The idea that Mr. Nizich was in anyway going to tell the unvarnished truth given he owes his biweekly paycheck totally to Palin's whims is about as credible as thinking Palin is just running for v.p.
well just bless his little six pack joe heart
Dude, why bother trying to explain anything. Palin haters don't listen or care. They actually think Obama is a good choice. I hope he wins because I like paying a lot of taxes and feeling patriotic. Liberals, tell me again how taxing the rich (company owners) is going to help create good paying jobs. Won't they just higher people at a lower wage to make up for the higher taxes? Or, they may just cut jobs all together. Obama wants to spend, spend , spend, he said so himself. I know I'm getting off topic but hearing most of you whine about Palin makes me think you like your options better.
Why do people harp on having to pay more taxes? True, we will end up having to pay more to support the bail out but under Obama's plan, the distribution will be more fair. The average working family will not pay more but actually a little less. The high income people that actually pay little taxes now will have to kick in more. Company's don't pay taxes based on their gross sales, only the profit. If they lose a few percentage points on profit, they will pay less taxes. Greed fuels the anger of those higher up that make their fortunes on the backs of the common man.
I think every word of this article is true. After all, according to some sources, she has spent 312 days at home in her first 19 months of governorship. Home, according to some sources, is in Wasilla, which is a bit of a drive (haha) from Juneau. So of course she has experience in governing from afar. Shame on you for feeling set adrift in her absence. Remain calm. All is well.
Hope she gets use to governing from afar. Don't think there are a whole lot of Alaskan's who really want her to come back now.
I give up on arguing with anti-Palin noobs on this site. Complaining about per diem? Saying we don't want her back? Whatever.
Mike,
Where do we stand on the proposals for long term and mid term energy relief in the State? This was a priority back in July from the Governor that her staff was looking at the problem and gathering data. Don't let the dust settle before the Legislature gets back in January. We the people, need to see some plans, recommendations, or ideas soon to keep from having to pay for more special sessions.
Oil just went below $90 per barrel (the average for last year which produced the surplus) and though it will take a few months below $80 per barrel to bring the average below last year's, it is something to consider before planning to increase State spending.
IF the Governor is on top of it, where is the investigation regarding Fuel prices here in Alaska vs. everywhere else? How about the fact the State Budget is based upon Oil at a particular price, and when we had a wind-fall she tacked it onto the PFD to buy votes.
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