Mike Nizich

Nizich, 56, joined the executive branch in 1976 under moderate Republican Gov. Jay Hammond. Today he earns $143,400 as chief of staff to conservative Republican Gov. Sarah Palin. Nizich served as Palin's deputy chief of staff until the resignation of Chief of Staff Mike Tibbles, who later joined the re-election campaign of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. Palin elevated Nizich to chief of staff shortly after her selection was announced as the running mate of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. He worked for Democratic Govs. Bill Sheffield, Steve Cowper and Tony Knowles, as well as Walter Hickel (Alaskan Independence Party at the time) and Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski. Nizich spent his first three years in the payroll section of the Department of Administration. But the majority of his career has been as director of the Division of Administration, the watchdog over classified hiring, spending and revenue compliance for the Office of the Governor.