Levi Johnston's Political Platform

(Aug. 10) -- Levi Johnston, 20, the father of Sarah Palin's grandson, confirms that he would be gunning for her old spot as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, in the next election. If successful, Johnston says he'll even venture onward and try to claim Palin's former position as governor.

The stunt is reportedly as serious as it gets, though it will serve as the basis for the newly single young bachelor's forthcoming reality show, tentatively titled "Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor's Office."

The election's not until 2012, which gives Johnston a chance to take current mayor Verne E. Rupright up on at least part of his advice following the big announcement and "get that high school diploma" (Levi dropped out of high school in 2008, during his junior year, to take a job as an electrical apprentice on the North Slope oil fields, which he also quit less than a year later).

But just how qualified is Levi to run for mayor of Wasilla? After all, it is Alaska's fourth largest city, with an estimated population of 10,256. Moreover, Wasilla is beset by numerous sociopolitical challenges, including an elevated crime rate, a widely reported meth problem and other economic hardships, to name but a few.

"I think first people are going to think it's a joke. But it's my job to prove them wrong, and I'm going to make it happen," Johnston told Variety magazine of his forthcoming run.

Would Johnston run as a Democrat, an independent or a Republican? And exactly what would his governing style be like? Surge Desk notes that despite lacking any discernible political platform at this time, Johnston has in the past articulated several telling statements about his personal philosophy and position on certain issues. Have a look at our version of Levi's proto-platform, and help add to it with your own observations by e-mailing the author of this post at carl.franzen@aolnews.com.

Gun Rights/Hunting
GQ writer John Jeremiah Sullivan, who penned one of the more in-depth pieces about the young man, had this to say about the would-be candidate's Second Amendment bragging rights:

Levi told me that in his estimation, he possessed "as much fishing, camping, and hunting experience as anybody my age in the country, if not more." I asked how he could possibly know this. "I'm 19 years old," he said, "and I've never done anything but hunt and fish and camp. I don't see how any of them could get more."

Now, for some of Levi's own, unannotated words:

Gay Rights
"Growing up in Wasilla, I've never seen a gay guy in Wasilla, I don't think. Once I started doing all these tours and everything, I just, you know, they're people too. It doesn't matter to me, more fans, it's great."
-- December 2009 interview on "The Joy Behar Show," via PopEater

Family Values
"I don't ever want to be a deadbeat dad. I love Tripp, and my goal is to take care of my family. I could go out and do movies, maybe one day even end up as a celebrity. But I'm not going to get a big old mansion and drive around in a Bentley. If it doesn't work out, I'll just go back to being a licensed electrician like everyone else in my family. That's still a lot of fun to me."
-- October 2009 Vanity Fair profile "Me and Mrs. Palin"

Comprehensive Sex Education
"Abstinence is a great idea. But I also think you need to enforce, you know, condoms and birth control and other things like that to have safe sex. I don't just think telling young kids, you can't have sex, it's not going to work. It's not realistic."
-- May 2009 spot on ABC's "Good Morning America," via The Huffington Post

Transparency
"I just get naked. That's what I do."
-- October 2009 interview with Us Magazine, on his much-hyped appearance in Playgirl magazine

Special Needs
"The special-needs baby got special love from Bristol, the rest of the kids, me and Todd, who was always playing with Trig when he could."
-- October 2009 Vanity Fair profile "Me and Mrs. Palin"

Bipartisanship
Asked about then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, Johnston reportedly said, "I don't know anything about him. He seems like a good guy. I like him."
-- October 2008 interview with The Associated Press