In 1996, Palin challenged and defeated incumbent John Stein for the non-partisan office of mayor, criticizing wasteful spending and high taxes.
In October 1996, she asked the police chief, librarian, public works director and finance director to resign, and she instituted a policy requiring department heads to get her approval before talking to reporters.
The librarian kept the job, despite a dispute over inquiries by Palin on how to ban books that included language she deemed inappropriate.
In January 1997, Palin fired the police chief, citing a failure to support her administration.
Palin said in a letter that she wanted a change because she believed the two did not fully support her administration. The chief filed a lawsuit; but a court dismissed it, finding that Palin had the right to fire city employees for political reasons.
As mayor, Palin reduced the mayoral salary, reduced property taxes by 40 percent, and increased the city sales tax to pay for a new indoor ice rink and sports complex.
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