More updates will be posted as story develops...
PALIN FOR SENATE 2010? Will former Gov. run in AK GOP Senate Primary vs the old machine candidate Murkowski. Murkowski's response to Palin's resignation: one sentence, "I am deeply disappointed that the governor has decided to abandon the state and her constituents before her term has concluded."
Such a move would fit with Palin's mission in Alaska politics: to cleanse the Alaska GOP of cronies and reform the state. By placing Parnell in the big chair, she positions him as frontrunner for Governor, 2010 and she frees herself to run for Senate 2010. That's two wins for reform.
LINK: To articles speculating on a possible Palin Senate run
LINK TO VIDEO OF ANNOUNCEMENT: http://hotairpundit.blogspot.com/2009/07/sarah-palin-to-resign-her-office-in-few.html
TRANSCRIPT OF ANNOUNCEMENT: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/exec-column.php
Lt Gov Parnell response (transcript): http://www.ltgov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=4246
EXULTANT Andrea Mitchell VIDEO: Sources Say Palin "Has Had It" With Politics
VIDEO: Palin's Brother: "Negative Media" Has "Weighed On Her For a Long time...
POLITICO: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24497.html
"We are not retreating; we are advancing in another direction."
WND: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=102974
The governor, her family at her side, emphasized she has been the target of 15 ethics complaints – all dismissed – at a cost of $2 million to the state and some $500,000 to her family.
"It has all been pretty insane," she said.
"And the people who offer up these silly accusations? It doesn't cost them a dime."
Palin anticipated her decision would be questioned.
"I'm determined to take the right path for Alaska, even though it is unconventional, and it's not so comfortable," she said.
Her brother, Chuck Heath Jr., told Fox News after the announcement she was spending up to 80 percent of her time defending herself from the complaints.
"There was no way she could effectively govern when so much of her time was being spent defending herself," Heath said.
"It's not fair to the state, and it's not fair to her family, and it finally got to the point where she needed to do something."
(News release from AK Gov's office.)
Governor Palin Announces No 2nd Term
No Lame Duck Session Either
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 09-167 http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1946
GOVERNOR PALIN ANNOUNCES NO SECOND TERM NO LAME DUCK SESSION EITHER July 3, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin announced today that she will not seek a second term as Governor of the State of Alaska and will relegate the power of governor to Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell in order to serve Alaska’s best interests. Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will move into Parnell’s current role.
“People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing's more important to me than our beloved Alaska,” said Governor Palin. “Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.” Standing outside her home in Wasilla, Alaska, Governor Palin reflected upon some of the administration’s accomplishments for Alaska as she approaches her final year in office. “I am determined to take the right path for Alaska even though it is not the easiest path,” said Governor Palin after the announcement. “Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional ‘Lame Duck’ status in this particular climate would just be another dose of ‘politics as usual,’ something I campaigned against and will always oppose. It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success. I look forward to helping others – to fight for our state and our country, and campaign for those who believe in smaller government, free enterprise, strong national security, support for our troops, and energy independence.” The transfer of power will occur following the Governor’s picnic in Fairbanks on July 26. At that point in time, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell will be sworn in and Lieutenant General Craig Campbell will assume his role as Lieutenant Governor. Governor Palin will spend July 4th in Juneau. ### Selected Accomplishments of the Palin Administration
General
- Transferred more control of public issues to the local level Natural Resources
- Created the Petroleum Systems Integrity Office to oversee responsible development
- Held the line for Alaskans on Point Thomson that encouraged drilling
- Restructured the state’s oil taxes to create a clear and equitable valuation formula for our oil and gas
- Initiated and implemented the largest energy project in the world through the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act
- Removed government from the dairy business and put it back into private-sector hands
Ethics
- Ushered in ethics reform
- Cleaned up previously accepted unethical actions affecting development
Fiscal Notes
- Slowed the rate of government growth
- Worked with the Legislature to place billions of dollars in savings
- Vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars in capital budget line items
- Reduced Alaska’s dependence on federal earmarks by nearly 85%
- Eliminated state-funded personal luxuries like the jet, the chef, and junkets
- Refused a pay raise, along with the Lieutenant Governor
Education
- Provided unprecedented support for education initiatives Public Safety
- Filled long-vacant public safety positions over the last year Corrections
- Broke ground on the new state prison
Fish and Game
- Maintained biologically-sound wildlife management for abundance Environment
- Established first sub-Cabinet on climate change
Legal
- State’s rights protected in two recent victories handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court
###
Updated: July 3, 2009 09:42 AM (Alaska Time) 
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10641495
by Andrew Hinkelman and Lori Tipton
Friday, July 3, 2009
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office in a few weeks, she said during a news conference at her Wasilla home Friday morning.
Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the Governor's Picnic at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks on Saturday, July 25, Palin said.
There was no immediate word as to why she will resign, though speculation has been rampant that the former vice presidential candidate is gearing up for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
Palin made the announcement flanked by Parnell and most, if not all, of her cabinet.
Parnell ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Don Young in the Republican primary last year.
The stunning announcement by Palin opens the floodgates for the 2010 gubernatorial race. Speculation that Palin might not seek re-election had fueled further conjecture of who might run.
This is a breaking story. Return to KTUU.com for more information
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AP: Spokesman: Sarah Palin is resigning as Alaska governor on July 26.
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July 3, 2009
CNN: First on the Ticker: Palin will not run for re-election
Posted: 03:04 PM ET (before news conference)
From CNN's Mark Preston and Peter Hamby
GOP sources tell CNN Palin will not seek re-election.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to announce Friday that she will not seek a second term, three sources tell CNN.
Palin has scheduled a 3 p.m. ET news conference at her home in Wasilla. The governor’s office offered no further details about the subject of the news conference, but the sources tell CNN that Palin will announce her decision to forgo another run.
"She thinks she has accomplished goals she has set forward," one of the sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said. "She sees what a positive influence she has had on people's lives from traveling the country in the last year."
As the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, Palin is considered one of the frontrunners for the GOP nomination in 2012. Her decision not to seek another term as governor is sure to stoke speculation that Palin is seriously eyeing a run for the White House.
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Typical hate piece from the Media: It Came from Wasilla, Vanity Fair, August, 2009