Sean Parnell

Lieutenant 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 (now known 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 honorably as an Anchorage Assembly Member and as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives, modeling ethical political leadership for both his sons and birthing a dream in his eldest. Sean pursued his childhood dream, and 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 was a dynamic leader who served on the Senate Finance Committee during his first two years, and he later co-chaired the Senate's Finance Committee during a financially difficult time in Alaska's history. Oil was at $9 per barrel, state revenues were down dramatically, and Sean lead the way with his Caucus in cutting the budget while maintaining priorities like education, public safety, and transportation. He was also a member of the Energy Council.

In 2006, after campaigning on a theme of "Alaskans Free of Fear-Alaskans with Hope and Opportunity," 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. In their downtime they enjoy running, hiking, fly-fishing, playing volleyball and soccer, and staying involved in their church and community. Sean is devoted to his family and is passionate about making Alaska safe for all families, particularly championing safety for women and children; as such, he fights vigorously for tough laws and penalties involving domestic violence and child abuse. One of Sean's greatest hopes is to empower Alaskans by unleashing their potential to build healthy families, to develop job and life-skills, and to serve and strengthen their communities.

External Links

• Alaska Lt. Governor Sean Parnell's Official Website
• Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor Sean R. Parnell