GOP's veep pick has Sandpoint roots
SANDPOINT - While it might be a stretch to call her a Sandpoint native, newly-minted GOP vice presidential pick Sarah Palin has deep Bonner County roots.
Palin was born in Sandpoint on Feb. 11, 1964, but her time in Idaho was short lived. After three months as a Bonner County resident, Palin's parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, moved the family to Alaska.
Now the governor of Alaska, Palin rose to quick fame Friday when presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain named her his second in command at an Ohio press conference, marking the first time in history a woman has held a spot on a Republican presidential ticket.
Palin has spent the vast majority of her 44 years in America's 49th state, but the first-term governor's Idaho roots are far more substantial than simply being the location of her birth. In 1983, Palin attended North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene and later earned a journalism degree from the University of Idaho.
"North Idaho College is excited to see one of its own alumna achieve such a substantial honor by being selected as the Republican vice presidential candidate," NIC President Priscilla Bell said in a press release. "Palin has achieved great success in her life and political career, and we're certainly proud of her accomplishments since getting her start at NIC."
A Hope native, Chuck Heath spent his youth hunting, fishing and playing sports before starting his career as a middle school science teacher, said childhood friend and former Idaho state Sen. Kermit Kiebert.
"(The Heaths) were just ordinary, hard-working people. Chuck lived for the outdoors, he really enjoyed hunting and fishing," Kiebert said.
Although he did not get the opportunity to see her grow up, Kiebert said North Idahoans should feel a kinship with Palin.
"She comes from the same kind of stock as most North Idaho folks do," Kiebert said. "She would have made a dandy politician in North Idaho … because of her values, which I'm sure she got from her father."
Those sentiments were echoed by Sandpoint's Susie Puckett, who attended Heath's science class and babysat the infant Palin.
"The family left when Sarah was only three months old, but from keeping up with those who do know her and from reading the papers, I know she's a woman of integrity. She's very down to earth, and that comes from the fact that she has two wonderful parents," Puckett said.
Idaho's political leaders lauded McCain's choice, with Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson calling it "absolutely brilliant."
"You've got an Idaho girl there on the ticket. She's fairly tough - Idaho women are fairly tough - so she'll be able to handle anything that Biden or Obama can throw at her," Simpson said. "The nice thing from a policy perspective is that she's obviously knowledgeable on western issues, public land issues, and other things that are of concern in the West."
Sen. Mike Crapo said Palin shares the "concerns and virtues of Idaho's families" and he hopes that given her ties to Idaho, she will make a visit to the state in the near future.
Rep. Bill Sali cited Palin's conservative background.
"Her values represent America's values - and my values," Sali said.
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter said Palin's history in Idaho and Alaska shows she understands western problems.
"I think she brings a lot of balance," Otter said. "She has been very involved in the Western Governor's Conference, in the National Governor's Association on primarily education matters, criminal justice, natural resources, and transportation, and she has always provided a lot of leadership and a lot of input to the other governors."
Palin's ties to Bonner County might not equate to anything more than an historical footnote or Trivial Pursuit answer, but that won't stop North Idahoans from celebrating her success.
"It's a big day for Sandpoint, and it was a proud day for me. I'm proud as punch that we have somebody that we share some identity with," Kiebert said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.