Verne E. Rupright
Encyclopedia
Verne E. Rupright, an Alaska
n lawyer
, Vietnam veteran
, and Republican Party
member, is the current Mayor
of Wasilla, Alaska
.
, and graduated from Saugus High School
in 1969. After high school, Rupright enlisted in the United States Air Force
, and spent a year in Vietnam
. After moving to Alaska in 1976, Rupright began as a pipeline construction worker
, and then became a state corrections officer. Since 1992, he has been a practicing attorney in Alaska. Rupright is married and has two daughters. During the United States presidential election, 2008
, he was a supporter of Sarah Palin
.
In 2010, Rupright responded to Levi Johnston
's announcement that he is going to run for mayor of Wasilla. Rupright told Entertainment Tonight
that, "Well, it is a little early to declare. Usually most wait until the year the seat is up. But since I am nearly old enough to be Levi's grandfather I think it would be wise for him to get a high school diploma and keep his clothes on. The voters like that!"
On April 4, 2011, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman
reported that "Controversial actions by Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright have inspired Wasilla City Councilwoman Taffina Katkus to run for his seat this fall, joining former Bristol Palin
fiancée Levi Johnston and possibly Councilwoman Dianne Woodruff."http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2011/04/05/local_news/doc4d9aa7354ea8f660129797.txt
Early during his term, Rupright set out a plan to make Wasilla a "fishing mecca" by rehabilitating Lake Lucille
and stocking the lake with larger fish.
Concerning the city's finances in early 2009, Rupright has stated that the city is preparing for a 5 percent cutback across the board.
In February 2009, Mayor Rupright advised Wasilla Police Chief Angella Long to study the annexation of Bogard Road land, including Williwaw Subdivision. The annexation would include 768 acres (3.1 km²) and more than 1,700 residents.
In April 2009, Mayor Rupright dismissed Wasilla’s chief of police
and the city's chief financial officer
. In Rupright’s first six months as mayor; these staff changes were his first.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War.The term has been used to describe veterans who were in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States armed forces, and countries allied to them, whether or...
, and Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member, is the current Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla, Alaska
Wasilla is a city in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States and the sixth-largest city in Alaska. It is located on the northern point of Cook Inlet in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of the southcentral part of the state. The city's population was 7,831 at the 2010 census...
.
Background
Rupright was born in Lynn, MassachusettsLynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, and graduated from Saugus High School
Saugus High School (Massachusetts)
Saugus High School is an American public secondary school located in Saugus, Massachusetts.-Facilities:The current Saugus High campus opened in September 1955. The single-story structure includes a cafeteria, auditorium, offices, classrooms, and a gymnasium....
in 1969. After high school, Rupright enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, and spent a year in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. After moving to Alaska in 1976, Rupright began as a pipeline construction worker
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
, and then became a state corrections officer. Since 1992, he has been a practicing attorney in Alaska. Rupright is married and has two daughters. During the United States presidential election, 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, he was a supporter of Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
.
2008 Wasilla Mayoral Election
In 2008, after living in Wasilla for 25 years, Rupright contested a five-way race for mayor of Wasilla. He finished second in the city's October 7, 2008 mayoral election, and participated in a two-way runoff with Marty Metiva on October 28. Rupright won 466 votes in the runoff, and election officials confirmed him as the winner on October 31.2011 Wasilla Mayoral Election
Rupright has stated that he plans to run for a second term for mayor of Wasilla. The election will be held on October 4, 2011.In 2010, Rupright responded to Levi Johnston
Levi Johnston
Levi Keith Johnston is the former fiancé of Bristol Palin. He first received media attention in August 2008 when U.S. vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin announced that her daughter Bristol was five months pregnant with Johnston's baby and that the two were engaged...
's announcement that he is going to run for mayor of Wasilla. Rupright told Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
that, "Well, it is a little early to declare. Usually most wait until the year the seat is up. But since I am nearly old enough to be Levi's grandfather I think it would be wise for him to get a high school diploma and keep his clothes on. The voters like that!"
On April 4, 2011, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman
The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman is a newspaper serving the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska. It is owned by Wick Communications, publishing every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday...
reported that "Controversial actions by Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright have inspired Wasilla City Councilwoman Taffina Katkus to run for his seat this fall, joining former Bristol Palin
Bristol Palin
Bristol Sheeran Marie Palin is the second child and oldest daughter of former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd....
fiancée Levi Johnston and possibly Councilwoman Dianne Woodruff."http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2011/04/05/local_news/doc4d9aa7354ea8f660129797.txt
Mayor of Wasilla
Rupright was sworn in as mayor of Wasilla on November 3, 2008. He replaced Dianne M. Keller, who left office due to term limits.Early during his term, Rupright set out a plan to make Wasilla a "fishing mecca" by rehabilitating Lake Lucille
Lake Lucille
Lake Lucille is a lake within the municipal limits of Wasilla, Alaska, located at .Most of the lake shoreline is private property ,...
and stocking the lake with larger fish.
Concerning the city's finances in early 2009, Rupright has stated that the city is preparing for a 5 percent cutback across the board.
In February 2009, Mayor Rupright advised Wasilla Police Chief Angella Long to study the annexation of Bogard Road land, including Williwaw Subdivision. The annexation would include 768 acres (3.1 km²) and more than 1,700 residents.
In April 2009, Mayor Rupright dismissed Wasilla’s chief of police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
and the city's chief financial officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
. In Rupright’s first six months as mayor; these staff changes were his first.