Sarah Says:

Palin herself said at that time: "If nothing else, the old Frontiersman editorial points out the importance of administrative experience at the chief executive level. I grew tremendously in my early months as mayor, managing the fastest-growing city in the state, and I turned my critics around."

The Truth:

Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska for 6 years. Population probably 5,500 when she left office.

Sarah Palin's first year as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, could easily have been her last as she became embroiled in personnel challenges, a thwarted attempt to pack the City Council and a bitter standoff with her local newspaper. Her first months were so contentious and polarizing that critics started talking of a recall.

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideas or compromise. As mayor, she fought ideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren't evaluated on their merits but on the basis of who proposed them.

Most services are provided by the Matanuska Susitna Borough to Wasilla, so the job is not as complex as in other cities. Sarah Palin’s longest political experience is as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, so one might ask what the mayor does in Wasilla.

1Preside at council meetings. The mayor may take part in the discussion of matters before the council, but may not vote, except that the mayor may vote in the case of a tie;

2Act as ceremonial head of the city

3Sign documents on behalf of the city;

4Appoint, suspend or remove city employees and administrative officials, except as provided otherwise in AS Title 29 and the Wasilla Municipal Code;

5Supervise the enforcement of city law and carry out the directives of the city council;

6Prepare and submit an annual budget and capital improvement program for consideration by the council, and execute the budget and capital program as adopted;

7Make monthly financial reports and other reports on city finances and operations as required by the council;

8Exercise legal custody over all real and personal property of the city;

9Perform other duties required by law or by the council; and

10Serve as personnel officer, unless the council authorizes the mayor to appoint a personnel officer.