Alaska Sen. Mark Begich (D) said Tuesday that he met personally with Gov. Sarah Palin (R) last week, just two days before she announced her resignation, and that the controversial governor gave no hint of her
future plans.
Begich said he was surprised at the abruptness of Palin’s announcement because she seemed energetic and engaged during an extensive meeting during which the two discussed a long range of state issues. Palin
announced on Friday that she would resign at the end of this month.
“There was no indication,” Begich said. “We had probably six or seven items, from transportation to climate change to issues around the energy bill, just a variety of things…She seemed like she always was. She had a few staff members there. There was nothing unusual.”
Begich did say he is looking forward to working with Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will succeed Palin. The two men have a long history, dating back to Parnell’s work co-chairing Begich’s 1988 state Assembly race.
–J. Taylor Rushing