| Sean Parnell | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Governor of Alaska From: July 26, 2009-December 1, 2014 | |||
| Predecessor | Sarah Palin | ||
| Successor | Bill Walker | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Republican | ||
| Spouse(s) | Sandra Parnell | ||
| Religion | Christian | ||
Governor Sean Parnell arrived in Alaska in 1973 at the age of 10. He inherited his love of Alaska from his father, Pat Parnell, who decided to move his wife and two sons to Alaska after being stationed at Fort Richardson. Sean graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1980, going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University, as well as a doctorate of jurisprudence from University of Puget Sound School of Law (known today as Seattle University School of Law). He has been an attorney since 1987 and is admitted to practice in Alaska and Washington, D.C. Like his father before him, Sean owned his own business for many years, a small law practice located in downtown Anchorage.
Sean's father, Pat, served Alaska as an Anchorage Assembly Member and as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives. In 1992 he was elected to the Alaska State House of Representatives. While serving in the House, Sean was active as a member of the House Finance Committee and chaired numerous budget subcommittees. After serving two terms in the House, Sean ran for, and won, a seat in the Alaska State Senate in 1996. In the Senate, Sean served on the Senate Finance Committee during his first two years, and he later co-chaired that Committee during a financially difficult time in Alaska's history - oil was at $9 per barrel and state revenues were down dramatically. He was also a member of the Energy Council.
In 2006, Sean was elected as Lieutenant Governor serving with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Sean and his wife, Sandy, have been married for 19 years, and they reside in Anchorage, Alaska, with their daughters Grace and Rachel.[1]
In March 2008, Parnell declared that he would challenge the long-serving Republican Don Young for Alaska's single seat in the House of Representatives.[2] Parnell has picked up the support of a number of influential conservatives for his primary battle, including Palin, National Review, and RedState.com editor Erick Erickson.
He become Governor on July 26, 2009, upon the resignation of Sarah Palin. Governor Parnell will continue Palin's policy of pursuing a natural gas pipeline. He has announced he will seek reelection in 2010.[3]
References
- ↑ http://ltgov.state.ak.us/bio.php Alaska Lt. Governor Sean Parnell's Biography
- ↑ http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/345168.html Anchorage Daily News "Parnell to battle Young in Republican primary"
- ↑ http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10641495