What’s the big deal?

Small-town mayor one day, vice presidential candidate the next.

“It’s all about people,” said Margaret Larson, the 70-year-old mayor of Arlington. “Being a mayor or being the president, you just need to be able to relate to people in a way that they understand your vision.”

A point to keep in mind for those spending this weekend becoming quick studies on the political world’s new “It” girl, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

She’s all the rage because she’s the running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain; if this duo triumphs in November, she’ll be a heartbeat away from running the country.

There’s a lot to read on this small-town belle with a jump shot and a journalism degree who could be negotiating with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin come January.

Today, she’s a governor, historically a very good pedigree for serving in the White House. Think Bush II, Clinton and Reagan.

Before that, her last elected job was in 2002, when she completed a six-year run as mayor of Wasilla — the same city where growing up she helped the high school basketball team win a state championship and wore the crown of “Miss Wasilla.”

The town had a population of 5,500 when she was mayor.

That’s a few more people than today live in Sultan, where Carolyn Eslick is mayor.

“I am not ready for the vice president’s job,” laughed Eslick. “If they called me I’d have answered, but I’ve got a lot to do in my little city.”

Seriously, the 58-year-old former restaurant owner said, mayors of small cities “have more training than some representatives and senators.”

“A woman who can raise a family and work a job and run a city has the same ability to serve as a man who goes to college and gets a job as lawyer and runs for office,” she said.

Because of her past, Palin will enjoy a special bond with leaders of sparsely populated communities she meets around the country. She can swap stories about incalculably valuable experiences of battling barking dogs and bloated budgets and nosy neighbors.

“Being a mayor in a small city gives you a unique perspective of what people need,” said Gold Bar Mayor Crystal Hill.

Stanwood Mayor Dianne White is less bullish on this notion that drawing up urban growth borders for the city somehow makes her ready to write a health care plan for the nation.

“I am not qualified to be vice president, and neither is she,” White said. “I don’t think the mayor of Stanwood will be tapped to do anything except cutting the ribbon on a new four-year-college in town.”

Larson confessed she’d have turned McCain down, too.

“I’m too old. If I was 30 years younger, I would have said yes,” she said.

And as for Hill, a mother of two who turns 30 this week?

“I’m not promising anything until dinner is cooked.”

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.