Palin’s path to governor

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made history Friday by becoming the first woman to be on the Republican presidential ticket. U.S. Sen. John McCain announced his selection of Palin has his vice presidential running mate, which continues a meteoric political rise for the Wasilla resident. Following is a timeline of Palin’s political life prior to her election as governor:

• 1962: Sarah Heath born to Chuck and Sally Heath in Idaho. Sarah was third, after oldest Chuck Jr., and second oldest Heather. Molly came two years after Sarah.

• 1964: The Heaths move to Alaska so Chuck can take a teaching job in Skagway.

• 1969: The Heaths move to Eagle River.

• 1970: The Heaths move to Wasilla.

• 1982: Sarah Heath, then a high school senior, plays point guard for the Wasilla Warriors girl’s basketball team as they overcome Robert Service High School to win the state championship.

• 1984 — Sarah finishes second in the Miss Alaska beauty pageant.

• 1987: Sarah Heath receives a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho.

• 1988: Sarah Heath marries Todd Palin.

• Oct. 6, 1992: Palin wins a seat on the Wasilla city council, running on a platform of change.

• Oct. 3, 1995: Palin elected to second council term.

• Oct. 1 1996: Palin defeats incumbent John Stein to take the reigns as Wasilla’s mayor. During an often-ugly campaign, Palin ran again on a platform of change and fresh ideas, garnering 60 percent of the vote. Stein decries Palin’s campaign as based less on issues than on personal attacks. He claims Palin supporters falsely painted him as anti-gun and anti-development.

• Oct. 5 1999: Palin garners 70 percent of the vote to easily beat back a challenge from Stein and win her second term as mayor. Stein cites his loss as proof that Wasilla has turned into Anchorage.

• Aug. 28, 2002: Palin places a close second in the race for lieutenant governor, beat out by Loren Leman. Talk starts spreading about her potential nomination to then-governor Frank Murkowski’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

• Dec. 20, 2002: Murkowski appoints his daughter to his vacated Senate seat. Palin says she’s not disappointed.

• Feb. 20, 2003: Murkowski taps Palin to head the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission at a time when the commission, especially in its dealings with natural gas, are at the forefront in state politics.

• December 2004: January 2004: Palin touches off a firestorm after filing ethics complaints against Republican Party chair Randy Reudrich for doing party business on state time and passing information to lobbyists. In January, Palin resigns from the Oil and Gas Commission.

• Oct. 10, 2005: Palin announces she intends to run for state office. Days later she files to run against Murkowski for governor.

• Aug. 22, 2006: Palin defeats Murkowski and John Binkley in a hard-fought campaign for the Republican nomination. As she did in Wasilla, Palin runs on a platform of change and new ideas.

• Nov. 8, 2006: Palin elected the state’s youngest governor in history and its first female governor, having defeated Democratic former governor Tony Knowles and Independent Andrew Halcro.

• Aug. 29, 2008: Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain announces Palin is his choice for vice president on the general election ticket.