From a former supporter of Sarah Palin

Back when I was just getting into politics and learning about people and policies and the trappings of that, I got involved in a gun control effort by two of Wasilla’s assembly members. It was a great time, met great people, we stopped the efforts and I got to meet then Mayor Sarah Palin. I was younger and naive and was impressed with her and how she worked with us on these issue. Looking back, well, she supported us but let us do the lion share of the work to fight against the ordinances that were being presented. I was naive enough that when, then Governor Murkowski, was up for re-election and I wanted someone of more conservative values that was not tainted by the US

Senate I called Sarah, and I pleaded with her to run. Again, I was naive in being impressed with her answers and comments (looking back with hindsight, what I wanted to hear). When she ran I supported her, I called her again for over an hour on issues of the day, again, got what I wanted

to hear, not knowing what was to come.

Fast forward to Sarah becoming Governor. Naive enough to think she would talk to me again, hear my views, respond and to support conservatives in the House and Senate. Oh boy was I naive! I look back and I got more responses on calls, e-mails and yes back in the day letters from Tony Knowles, Frank Murkowski and then after she left Sean Parnell. For those that get e-mails back from Lisa, months after what you wrote or called her about is bad, wait to see what you will not get from Sarah 4,000 miles

away! Think Sarah was unapproachable in Juneau unless you were in her inner circle? It will be 100 fold worse!

Two situations stand out for me. Sarah was all for taxing the hell out of the oil industry with ACES and AGEA. I remember Sarah commenting that the 25% tax by the Democrats was a good start and should be 27%! Then when my Senator Charlie Huggins stood up to her because we told him to, she promised she would campaign against any Republican that voted against ACES and AGEA. That prompted a scathing call to her Anchorage Office that she would not get away with attacking my employee Charlie and that as my employee as Governor she damn will better back off or I would do all I could to support whomever primaried her! Fortunately shortly after that she resigned, not over that, but some really relentless attacks that even then I agreed why she resigned. I think she commented that she could not

do her job with all the attacks going on. Of historical note, Governor Sean Parnell and a strong Republican House and Senate basically repealed ACES and AGEA. That from Sarah’s former Lt Governor!

The other event was her first Governors Picnic. I was a member of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) during Knowles, Murkowski, Palin and Parnell’s administrations. We would go to the Governor Picnics, show off who we were, our mission etc. Governors Knowles and Murkowski would come

see us, troop the line, talk to us, thank us for our service. Sarah, not a chance! She was signing books and enjoying all those poor naive people who were praising her! She then, killed our mission, appointed a new General whom was then replaced with an even worse one out of spite over one individual. That is a story in and of itself!

Sarah Palin is no conservative, she when given the chance, showed she was a RINO. We have a RINO now in our Congressional Delegation, Lisa Murkowski, don’t need another! She thinks she can stand with the big dogs, the likes of those socialist in Congress who will eat her up and spit her out! She will be just as bad, if not worse than Liz Chaney!

Lastly, this coming into the Congressional race is opportunist because she knew she could not beat Don Young, now she sees a way to be in the limelight! Well Sarah, I have news for you. I am no longer naive, I have learned my lessons, I have been mentored by the likes of Senator Shelly Hughes, Mike Shower and many other conservatives within my circle of friends. I have learned how to look at candidates and I fully and completely support Nick Begich! He has been working on this election

while you and your boyfriend were living in NY City. Nick has been out answering questions, stating policy, and working to gain the trust of voters all across the state over the last several months. He has amassed over a million dollars in campaign contributions by Alaskans, not Lower 48ers! Where will you get your campaign funds? From al lthos in the Lower 48 that just loved you as candidate for VP? I kind of bet they have moved on but most important, they are not Alaskans! As much as I am a supporter of President Trump, his endorsement of you was not a good move on his part. I pray that he will not have to find out the hard way if you are elected, cause I fully expect you will greatly disappoint him! Vote Jane 11 and August 16 Nick Begich! Let Sarah go back to New York City and out of the limelight!

Since this opinion piece didn’t’ get out when I sent it, a short update. I got to meet Sarah on 22 Apr at the Republican Convention (this was after she had called the Alaska Republican Party (ARP) a “Good old Boys club”, I didn’t know at the time). As things stand, I am looking at having a debate of those whom make the Special General Elections. I asked her for contact information in the event she makes the top 4 for the debate. She said she would not debate “losers” Actually she said something more divisive but it took me aback so “losers” is my best recollection. Her campaign manager Jerry Ward, (ex-State Senator) basically refused the offer as well. On top of that Sarah and others wanted a suspension of the ARP rules so to get an endorsement from the ARP (even though Sarah said she didn’t want it in the ADN interview). Let me be clear, Nick Begich followed the ARP rules to get the endorsement he got. The others could have done the same, they did not. It takes a 2/3rds vote to suspend the rules. My memory is that the final votes approached 75% NO. Lastly nasty rumors are now making the rounds on Nick, don’t know if this from Sarah or Jerry, but... They are lies, I know them to be lies. If you hear a rumor, check it out, don’t take anyones “word”, that includes me.

Mike Coons is a resident of Palmer.