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Todd Mitchell Palin (born September 6, 1964)[3] is an oil field production operator and the current First Gentleman (self-styled \\\\\\\"First Dude\\\\\\\")[4] of Alaska. He is the husband of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the 2008 Vice Presidential nominee of the Republican Party.
Todd Palin was born in Dillingham, Alaska, to Jim Palin and his first wife, Blanche Kallstrom.[5] His father, a native of Seattle, Washington,[6] is a former general manager of Matanuska Electrical Association.[7] His mother, a former secretary of the Alaska Federation of Natives, is one-quarter Yup\\\\\\\'ik, and his maternal grandmother, Lena Andre, is a member of the Curyung tribe.[8] Todd Palin has taken some college courses but does not have a degree.[5]
In 1984, at the age of 20, Palin was arrested for driving under the influence.[9] No accident and no injuries were involved in the events leading to his arrest.[10]
Palin is a union member belonging to the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers).[11]
For 18 years, he worked for BP in the North Slope oil fields of Alaska. In 2007, in order to avoid a conflict of interest relating to his wife\\\\\\\'s position as governor, he took a leave[12] from his job as production supervisor when his employer became involved in natural gas pipeline negotiations with his wife\\\\\\\'s administration.[5] Seven months later, because the family needed more income, Todd returned to BP. In order to avoid potential conflict of interest, this time he accepted a non-management position as a production operator.[12][1]
He is also a commercial salmon fisherman at Bristol Bay on the Nushugak River.[5] Financial statements filed in 2007 show that Palin earned $92,790 from BP and fishing.
Sarah Palin\\\\\\\'s powerful \\\\\\\"First Dude\\\\\\\"
Todd Palin has exerted unusual influence on his wife\\\\\\\'s Alaska government. In Washington, their methods would do Bush and Cheney proud.
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