Editor's Note: Governor Palin executed these appointments whilst in Kosovo on Friday, June 26, 2009.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin [on June 26, 2009] announced appointments to the Advisory Council on Libraries, the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation Board of Directors, and the Water and Wastewater Works Advisory Board (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶1).

Advisory Council on Libraries

The 12-member council advises the Alaska State Library Administration on the federal Library Services and Technology Act plan for the state, and on the development and evaluation of library services throughout Alaska (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶3).

Governor Palin appointed Donna P. Huguelet, and reappointed Cathy Boutin, Jane E. Fuerstenau, Patricia K. Kilmain and Elizabeth R. Odsen to the Advisory Council on Libraries (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶2).

Biography of Donna P. Huguelet

Huguelet, of Kenai, has been a special education teacher in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District since 2004, and worked as a tutor and coordinator in the Anchorage School District’s migrant education program from 1997-2003. She has also worked as a regular education tutor and teacher’s aide. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a master’s degree in special education from the College of William & Mary. Huguelet was appointed to a seat representing library users (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶4).

Biography of Cathy Boutin

Boutin, of Juneau, has been a librarian and teacher for Juneau public schools from 1985-86 and since 1988. She also worked at the University of Alaska Southeast’s library from 1986-88, and worked as a teacher and librarian in Oregon public schools from 1974-82. She was president of the Alaska Association of School Librarians in 2003, and received its “Linda K. Barrett Service Award” in 2005. Boutin earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Willamette University of Salem, Oregon, and a master’s degree in educational media from Portland State University. She has served on the council since 2006, and was reappointed to a seat representing library users (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶5).

Biography of Jane E. Fuerstenau

Fuerstenau, of Soldotna, has been a librarian and assistant professor of library science at the Kenai Peninsula Campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage since 2001. She previously worked as an assistant at the Kenai Community Library, and as circulation director and learning resources aide at the University of Maine at Augusta. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. Fuerstenau has served on the council since 2008, and was again selected by the Alaska Library Association for a seat reserved for the organization’s immediate past president (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶6).

Biography of Patricia K. Kilmain

Kilmain, of Palmer, has been director of the Palmer Public Library since 2001. She previously worked as systems director for the Matanuska-Susitna Library Network from 1999-200, and has experience as a reference librarian, computer technician, computer network administrator, and legal secretary. Kilmain earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Massachusetts, a master’s degree in librarianship from the University of Washington, and a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She has served on the council since 2006, and was again selected by the Alaska Library Association for a seat reserved for a representative of public libraries from the organization (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶7).

Biography of Elizabeth R. Odsen

Odsen, of Anchorage, has been a technical services librarian at the Alaska State Court law library since 1983, and has worked at public libraries in Anchorage and Washington. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Pacific Lutheran University, and a master’s degree in librarianship from the University of Washington. Odsen has served on the council since 2004, and was again selected by the Alaska Library Association for a seat reserved for a special libraries representative from the organization (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶8).


Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. Board of Directors

The 11-member board oversees the corporation, which provides space launch services, promotes aerospace-related economic growth and development in Alaska, and strengthens the state’s technological infrastructure. The corporation owns and operates the Kodiak Launch Complex, provides support for new and continuing national launch priorities involving the complex, and works with private corporations, universities and government agencies to offer expanded aerospace services to Alaska and the nation (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶10).

Governor Palin reappointed Thomas D. Walters and Dr. David J. Weldon Jr. to the Alaska Aerospace Development Corp. Board of Directors (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶9).

Biography of Thomas D. Waters

Walters, of Kodiak, is owner and manager of Maritime Helicopters of Kodiak. Since retiring from the Coast Guard in 1992 after 22 years service as a helicopter pilot, he has been a commercial helicopter pilot serving government and business clients. He has served 13 years on the Kodak City Council, served on the Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound regional citizens advisory councils, and been a member of the Kodiak Convention and Visitors Bureau. Walters received an associate’s degree from the University of Texas San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin University, and graduated from U.S. Air Force command and staff colleges. He has served on the board since 2006, and was reappointed to a seat representing business (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶11).

Biography of David J. Weldon, Jr.

Weldon, of Indialantic, Florida, represented Florida’s “Space Coast” district, home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2008. His congressional career focused on military and civil space programs, and he served eight years on the House Science Committee’s space and aeronautics subcommittee, and six years on the House Committee on Appropriations. In private life, he is a physician specializing in internal medicine. He received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the State University of New York Stony Brook and a medical degree from State University of New York Buffalo School of Medicine. He was first appointed to the board in January, and was reappointed to a seat representing the aerospace industry (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶12).


Water and Wastewater Works Advisory Board

The nine-member board advises and assists the state Department of Environmental Conservation in preparing certification exams and reviewing applications; develops regulations governing water and wastewater operator certification; classifies treatment systems; and serves as a semi-final authority in settling disputes between operators and the department (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶14).

Governor Palin appointed Dan Hines, and reappointed Bruce Jones, to the Water and Wastewater Works Advisory Board (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶13).

Biography of Dan Hines

Hines, of Juneau, has worked for the City and Borough of Juneau’s water utility since 1991: as an operator from 1991-99, as a senior operator from 1999-2002, and as operations supervisor since 2002. He holds a level IV state water distribution certificate and a level III state water treatment certificate. Hines has received a “Large System Operator of the Year” award from the Alaska Water & Wastewater Management Association. Hines graduated from Ketchikan High School, and attended Washington State University. He was named to a governor-appointed seat (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶15).

Biography of Bruce Jones

Jones, of Petersburg, has been general manager of the Inter-Island Ferry Authority since 2007. He served the City of Petersburg as city manager from 2002-07, as public works director from 1997-2002, and as water and wastewater utilities superintendent from 1988-97. He held numerous state certificates, including level III water system operator, level II wastewater system operator, level III water distribution, and level II wastewater collection. He was named the Alaska Water & Wastewater Management Association’s “Alaska Operator of the Year” in 1985, and “Large System Operator of Year” in 1992. He has served on the board since 2001, and was reappointed to a governor-appointed seat (Board Appointments, 2009, ¶16).

Commentary

As noted at the beginning of this entry, Governor Palin made these appointments while in Kosovo inspecting her troops, assessing their readiness for future missions, visiting the wounded, and executing promotions. She may have left Alaska for a few days, but Alaska never left her (and never will).

Governor Palin is currently in Germany visiting wounded soldiers in Germany. Following is the complete text of her tweet on the subject:

LtGen Campbell & I now n Germany=visit wounded warriors seek to do more to help these deserving patriots than mere visit they sacrifice much (Palin, 2009, ¶1).

Governor Palin has made 91 appointments and re-appointments this year, including two judicial appointments, an attorney general, and one state senate appointment. In the 178 days that have passed this year, she has averaged one appointment every two days.

Governor makes board appointments. (2009, June 26). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 27, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1940

Palin, S.L.H. (2009, June 27). "Visiting wounded warriors." Twitter, AKGovSarahPalin. Retrieved June 27, 2009 from: http://twitter.com/AKGovSarahPalin/status/2356722099