Ah, marriage! That sacred bond where two people pledge their lives to each other, share a home, and—if you’re Jenny Van Sickle and Mayor Jim Paine—pretend the other doesn’t exist on public records.
Yep, these two are legally married since 2020, yet they’ve managed to pull off the most spectacular political disappearing act since Watergate.
No shared address.
No spouse listed on official profiles.
And definitely no accountability when it comes to ethically murky decisions—like, say, attempting a 2,400-acre land swap that reeked of a backroom deal.
Jenny Van Sickle: The Only Superior City Council Member With a Supreme Court Ruling
Now, if you thought this was just a small-town political soap opera, think again. Jenny Van Sickle isn’t just any council member—she’s the only one with her name etched in Alaska state supreme court history. That’s right, the Alaska Supreme Court had to rule on her attempt to move her child out of state, overriding a custody agreement she already had with her ex in Alaska.
Once upon a time, Jenny Van Sickle was Jenny Weed, and she shared joint custody of her child in Alaska with her ex, Joshua McGraw.
But in 2002, she moved to Michigan, got married, and became Jenny Van Sickle. Rather than follow the already agreed-upon custody arrangement, she tried to sidestep Alaska’s legal ruling by filing in Michigan to gain sole custody.
The Michigan courts laughed her out of the room, ruling they had no jurisdiction. Meanwhile, McGraw—who clearly saw what was happening—filed a countercase in Alaska, arguing she was manipulating the system.
The Alaska Supreme Court agreed, ruling that:
Van Sickle tried to override their custody agreement by filing in another state. She showed hostility toward her ex, making false accusations against him when mad. The child had strong family ties in Alaska, and McGraw was more willing to co-parent.
Translation? The court saw through her tactics and ruled in favor of the father.
So while Jenny Van Sickle now sits on the Superior City Council preaching about ethics, she holds the unique distinction of being the only council member with a supreme court-certified history of trying to bend legal agreements for personal gain.
Political Power Couple or Corruption-In-Progress?
So why the separate lives and selective amnesia? A few theories:
1. The “We’re Just Keeping It Professional” Act
Maybe they think by not listing each other, they can dodge those pesky conflict-of-interest accusations.
Because nothing says “good governance” like a married couple pretending they’re not married while voting on policies that benefit each other.
2. The Political Witness Protection Program
Mayor Paine is dodging accountability, while Jenny tries to distance herself from the whole “husband rewrote land conservation laws for personal gain” situation.
When the heat’s on, a little strategic ghosting goes a long way.
3. The Most Expensive Form of Social Distancing
Forget COVID—this is Corruption-24.
If they don’t share an address, then when someone asks,
“Hey, isn’t it weird that you two worked on a major land deal that would have directly benefited your family?”
they can just shrug and say:
“We don’t even live together!”
Classic political move: No shared house, no shared blame.
Reality Check: This Isn’t Normal
Most married couples file taxes together, acknowledge each other on legal documents, and—crazy thought—actually live together.
But Jim and Jenny?
They’ve taken “playing house” to a whole new level—where the rules change whenever it suits them.
So the next time Mayor Jim Paine and Jenny Van Sickle “Paine” try to pull another shady land deal, someone should ask them:
“Are you governing the city? Or are you just covering for each other?”
And while you’re at it, maybe ask Jenny what it’s like to be the only city council member immortalized in an actual State Supreme Court ruling.
Because that’s a distinction you won’t see on her campaign signs.
