Mom first, Governor second

I try to never discuss politics with people or in writing, because I’ve found that, while of course I am always right except when I am wrong, others might not agree with me and persuading them to the correct viewpoint (mine) usually involves too much work. Since I truly abhor causing public scenes unless they involve lots of applause and adoration for my benefit, I do my utmost to avoid any hint of party talk with others.

Until now.

There’s been a wee bit of controversy this week surrounding our Governor and a well-known Valley Senator who also happens to be our Senate President. Sound bites from public radio aside, when I heard that the Governor of the great State of Alaska was rescheduling her annual State of the State address so that she could catch a flight to attend her son’s graduation from boot camp, I could not have been prouder to be a resident of this state, and a local from the same area as our governor.

We even went to the same high school, graduating exactly a decade apart.

In case there’s any question, she graduated in 1982. I was 1992, not ’72, although with the gray hairs my children have given me I suppose some might think the latter possible.

But who would have ever thought that the time of the State of the State address would be given more importance in written and broadcast mediums than the content?

Word play and power struggles aside, I am coming out in full support of our Governor on this one, simply because I am a mother and the wife of a soldier.

I love the fact that, with this simply act, our Governor has let us know that her first priority is that of mother, and her second is that of Governor.

The order of her priorities suits me perfectly. Because I think being a mom is the most important job in the entire world, and it should always come first.

Not that I have an aspirations of running for political office, but if I did, all my constituents would have my earnest vow that they would come first, right after my family.

Just don’t ask me my political views on certain subjects, because I hate to have anyone mad at me and therefore would not give them to anyone so as to make everyone happy. Or frustrated.

Can I run for office on that premise? I think a myriad of signs stating “Vote For Tiffany. She’s Ambiguous” would certainly be honest, if somewhat confusing. And I know I would be guaranteed at least four votes, mainly because I am directly related to four local voters.

Better make that three. Dad’s still not sure if he would vote for me.

But, back to our governor. I have met her several times. She was in many parades I marched in (okay, casually pushed a double stroller in) and I still recall she made it a point to shake hands and greet everyone she could, even after the parade when everyone was in comatose states of exhaustion and trying scrape horse debris from their shoes. Governor Palin even admired my sticky and sulky toddlers, who were not as impressed with the parades, the marching or the fire engines running their sirens directly in front of us the entire route as I was. They were rather verbose about it, as I recall.

I also had the chance to speak with her when she attended a local Valley Performing Arts performance of a Disney production. I got to walk around with her and introduce her to cast members and set up photos opportunities with eager visitors.

The one thing that stuck out to me was her sincere graciousness with everyone. She introduced herself as “Sarah,” and everyone called her that. No “Governor Palin” or even simply “Governor.” She was just “Sarah” to everyone, and I think that, more than anything else, made her approachable, likable and authentic to everyone present.

As the spouse of someone who also went to boot camp over twenty years ago, I am thrilled that Track Palin will have his family present to see him graduate. Since the chances of his being sent to war in the Middle East are extremely high, I understand just how it important it is for him to revel in the embrace of his family for as long as he can.

As a constituent, I can completely understand and agree with Governor Palin’s need to see her oldest’s graduation from basic training in Georgia.

As a mother, I can honestly state that I think her priorities are one hundred percent correct, and I agree whole-heartedly with them.

As the wife of a soldier, I am ecstatic that the individual who holds the highest office in the state is the proud parent of a soldier.

Anyone who will reschedule the standard time of the annual State of the State address in Alaska’s isolated capital and discombobulate both the State House and the Senate in order to attend her son’s graduation from US Army basic training is just fine in my book.

Tiffany Horvath is the mother of two and the stepmother of one. Her husband, Drew, was deployed to Iraq and returned home in December. She writes every Sunday abut life at home as a wife and mother.