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CP26382808 — FILE - This Nov. 7, 2013 file photo provided by The City of Wasilla (Alaska) Department of Public Works shows a cardboard cutout of Sarah Palin in the 1999 Ford Expedition she used when she was mayor of Wasilla, outside City Hall in Wasilla, Ak. The sale of the vehicle used by Sarah Palin when she was mayor of an Alaska town is causing a stir. The city of Wasilla auctioned off the SUV on a website and will net about an ,000 profit. The deputy mayor lost a fight to use the money to restock the local food bank, and is now accusing the current mayor of trying to enrich city coffers off Palin\'s name. (AP Photo/The City of Wasilla Department of Public Works, File)

Alaska town’s eBay sale of Palin’s mayoral vehicle causes stir

December 10 2013 05:37 AM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Alaska community’s sale on eBay of a vehicle used by former Mayor Sarah Palin has caused a stir in small-town politics.

The city of Wasilla, just north of Anchorage, auctioned off the 1999 Expedition used by Palin during her second term as mayor on the website. A Fairbanks woman bought it for $10,300, about $8,000 over its value.

The city will use the money to replenish its vehicle replacement fund. But Deputy Mayor Colleen Sullivan-Leonard proposed using the funds to restock the local food pantry.

That proposal died Monday when Mayor Verne Rupright declined to break a 3-3 council tie.

Sullivan-Leonard says it’s unfortunate Rupright is capitalizing on Palins’ name to fatten city coffers. Rupright says it’s just good business when you can get more money than expected for surplus equipment.

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