Former Blair County resident Kevin Strong now lives in North Pole, Alaska, and although he's excited his governor was chosen as John McCain's running mate Friday, he's mourning the possible loss of her leadership.
Local voters and party leaders alike expressed shock and surprise when McCain announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential pick.
The Republican presidential hopeful made the announcement on the heels of the Democratic National Convention, which ended Thursday night with Democrat Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech.
The Republican convention begins Monday in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Palin, 44, a first-term governor, is married with five children. The Palins' oldest son will deploy to Iraq this fall, and the youngest was born this spring.
Strong, who grew up in Roaring Spring and traveled to Alaska for college, has lived there for 18 years, but he plans to move to Bellwood before the Nov. 4 election.
"It's taken everybody in Alaska by surprise," he said, adding that the rumors started at 3 a.m. Alaskan time, 7 a.m. Eastern time. "She's been an excellent governor for the past two years. She stands on her principles, as opposed to the party line."
Although Alaska's Legislature meets only a few months each year, Strong recalled Palin calling lawmakers back twice this year for state business: to authorize a natural gas pipeline and to discuss extra funding to help Alaskans pay for home heating oil.
"On our newspaper comment boards, everyone refers to her as Gov. Sarah or Sarah," Strong said. "She has a very positive reputation."
Joe Wales of Altoona had never heard of Palin and said he would have to listen to the news of the pick.
Wales said the only greater surprise would be someone from a different party. He still is undecided between McCain and Obama.
"I'm still open," he said. "Maybe that's what he's looking for. The Republicans are really throwing something in there."
Jane Keen of Duncansville called Palin an "excellent" choice. The registered Republican said she supports McCain.
Keen watched the coverage of Palin joining the McCain ticket with other women at New Image Beauty Salon in Altoona.
"I never dreamed it," she said of the pick. "I was very, very surprised. Pleasantly surprised."
Keen said it's time a woman had the chance to take the position. Palin's large family should not be a deterrent, Keen said.
"She'll have wonderful people to look after the children while she's at the White House," she said. "It'll be a wonderful experience the whole way around for the children."
Blair County Republican Chairman A.C. Stickel said he expected former presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to earn the spot, as did Democratic Chairman Frank Rosenhoover.
Stickel said he's excited about the choice, previously considered those on McCain's short list, including Romney, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
"McCain just proved once again that he is a maverick," Stickel said, adding that Palin's gender and age "don't hurt. While she doesn't have a lot of Washington experience, she has executive leadership experience to step in and be president."
Not much is known about Palin, Stickel said, but she is pro-life and a member of the National Rifle Association.
Rosenhoover called the pick a "bold maneuver." He said he had never heard of Palin before the announcement and doesn't know anything about her.
He doesn't believe supporters of former candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton will be swayed by McCain's choice.
"A lot of women were for Hillary because she was an outspoken supporter of absolute women's rights," Rosenhoover said. "I don't think you're going to see voters swing toward a person they don't know anything about."
Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.
