Palin angers Dems with controversial appointment

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) whipped up Democrats in her state again last weekend when she made a controversial appointment to the state Senate.

Palin appointed legislative aide Tim Grussendorf to fill Democrat state Sen. Kim Elton’s seat, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Palin was required to fill the seat with a Democrat. But instead of following tradition and picking the Democrats’ nominee for the position, House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula, Palin picked Grussendorf. Grussendorf just switched his party registration from Republican to Democrat in the past few weeks to be eligible for the appiontment.

Grussendorf’s appointment angered Democrats. “We’re asking them to call their senators and encourage their senator to stand behind Beth Kerttula and vote this nomination down,” Rich Listowski, a state Democratic Party central committee, said, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

Kerttula was reportedly very critical of Palin and her run for the vice presidency last year.

The Daily News notes that Grussendorf does have ties to the Democratic party and “said he never meant to be a registered Republican.”

Earlier this month, Alaska Democrats blasted Palin for refusing federal stimulus funds.