New governor of Alaska sees few changes

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - After Sean Parnell became Alaska's governor yesterday, he promised to push many of Sarah Palin's higher-profile initiatives, like the natural-gas pipeline.

"We share the same core values," he said, while noting their personalities are different.

That fact hasn't been lost on the people who deal the most with the governor's office. State lawmakers are looking for a better relationship after a rocky few months with Palin since she returned from the 2008 presidential campaign.

Republican State Rep. John Coghill said Parnell's years as a lawmaker in the state House and Senate should help open communications between the executive and legislative branches.

"I think his understanding of how to communicate is going to do him well. That's one of the things the present governor has struggled with. I think he will just do better at it," Coghill said.

Parnell, 46, was born in Hanford, Calif., and moved to Anchorage with his family in 1973. He graduated from East Anchorage High School and Pacific Lutheran University, and earned his law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law.

He has practiced law in Anchorage since 1987. Following in the footsteps of his father, Pat, Parnell was elected to the state House in 1992 for two terms. He then was elected to the state Senate, where he was cochairman of the Finance Committee. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2006.

On July 1, Palin summoned Parnell about 4 p.m. and told him she would be resigning.

"I was taken aback," Parnell said. "When the governor takes that kind of a step, it's a serious thing. It was clear to me she gave it a lot of thought."

He is not shaking up the cabinet as he steps into office. He has retained Palin's commissioners, but will replace Craig Campbell in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs since he has been tapped as Parnell's lieutenant governor.

Parnell said his administration would focus on the economy, which he called the key issue facing Alaskans. It's a direction he shares with Palin.

"I'm going to continue her focus on economic planning," he said. "I'm going to continue her focus on making sure we have natural gas and energy, cheaper energy for Alaskans. Like I said, we share the same core values."