News from Gallagher & Associates Law Firm, P.A.

VP Candidates, Who are these Guys?

By: Jenna Jordan

With the election upon us and the importance of the other half of the ticket, we thought it helpful to profile the two Vice President candidates.

Since we are in the South, we will start with Sarah Palin. She was recently announced as Republican John McCain's running mate. At 44, the former beauty queen from Alaska balances out his age, 72. Her governmental experience spans two terms on the City Council, two terms as mayor, and less than one term as Governor. Before joining the Republican Party in 1996, Palin was a member of an Alaskan Political party which advocates for a vote on whether Alaska should remain a part the United States. She has been politically allied with Pat Buchanan, Ted Stevens, Walter Hickel, and Sean Parnell. During her service as Mayor, she lowered property taxes by forty percent and reduced the mayor's salary. She controversially fired the police chief, as well as many others, claiming he did not support her administration which resulted in an unsuccessful lawsuit. Palin then instituted a policy requiring all department heads to have statements approved by her before speaking with the press. While mayor, she also secured $27 million in Congressional funds for her constituents. She is the mother of five children ranging from eighteen to five months. Her second oldest, 17, is five months pregnant and planning her marriage.

Joe Biden became the fifth-youngest senator at the age of 30 and has since become the sixth-longest serving senator currently in office. Now in his sixth consecutive term representing Delaware, Biden serves as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, and the co-chairman of the Caucus on International Narcotics Control. He is also a member of eleven subcommittees. He has been associated with legislation against domestic violence. While in school, he received five student draft deferments from Vietnam before being declared ineligible for service due to a history of asthma. He has three children. His eldest son was a partner in a law firm before being elected Attorney General. He is also a captain in the National Guard JAG. His deployment date is in October of 2008. Biden's younger son is an attorney in Washington, D.C. and previously worked for the Commerce Department. Biden continues to commute one hour each day. This is a practice he began during his first term when his wife and first daughter died in a car accident and he was left to care for his two boys.