Sean Parnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sean Parnell
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Parnell in 2014
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| 10th Governor of Alaska | |
| In office July 26, 2009 – December 1, 2014 |
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| Lieutenant | Craig Campbell Mead Treadwell |
| Preceded by | Sarah Palin |
| Succeeded by | Bill Walker |
| 12th Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage | |
| Assumed office June 12, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Bruce Schultz (interim) Cathy Sandeen |
| 9th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska | |
| In office December 4, 2006 – July 26, 2009 |
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| Governor | Sarah Palin |
| Preceded by | Loren Leman |
| Succeeded by | Craig Campbell |
| Member of the Alaska Senate from the 1st district |
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| In office January 13, 1997 – January 13, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Steve Rieger |
| Succeeded by | John Cowdery |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 17th district |
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| In office January 11, 1993 – January 12, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | John Cowdery |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sean Randall Parnell
November 19, 1962 Hanford, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Sandra Scebold
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Pacific Lutheran University (BBA) Seattle University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Sean Randall Parnell (born November 19, 1962) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the tenth governor of Alaska from 2009 to 2014. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Parnell became governor in July 2009 after Governor Sarah Palin left office. In 2010, he was elected governor on his own. He won with the largest victory margin for any Alaska governor since Alaska became a state. In 2014, he lost a close election and went back to working as a lawyer.
Before becoming governor, Parnell was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives and the Alaska Senate. He also worked as a lawyer for many years. On June 12, 2021, he became the chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage.
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Early Life and School
Sean Parnell was born in Hanford, California. His father, Pat, served in the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson near Anchorage. In 1973, when Sean was 10, his family moved back to Alaska and made Anchorage their home.
His mother was a high school teacher for over 25 years. His parents also owned a copy and office supply store in Anchorage. Parnell worked in the family business when he was a teenager and in college.
Parnell went to East Anchorage High School and graduated in 1980. He earned a business degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 1984. In 1987, he got his law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law, which is now part of Seattle University.
Political Career
Parnell has a license to practice law in both Alaska and Washington, D.C. He worked as a lawyer for many years before, during, and after his time in politics. For nine of those years, he had his own law office.
Working in the Alaska Legislature
In 1992, at age 29, Parnell was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. He represented a part of Anchorage. After his first year, other lawmakers voted him the "Most Effective Freshman Legislator." This was because he was good at helping others pass new laws.
In 1996, Parnell was elected to the Alaska Senate. There, he served on the important Senate Finance Committee. He later became a leader on the committee, helping to manage the state's money.
Parnell chose not to run for re-election in 2000. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family and returned to his work as a lawyer.
Lieutenant Governor of Alaska
In 2006, Parnell was elected lieutenant governor of Alaska. He was the running mate for Sarah Palin, who was elected governor. In Alaska, the governor and lieutenant governor run together as a team in the main election.
The lieutenant governor is the second-highest official in the state. They take over if the governor can no longer serve.
Becoming Governor of Alaska
In July 2009, Governor Sarah Palin resigned from her position. Because he was the lieutenant governor, Parnell automatically became the new governor of Alaska. He served the rest of Palin's term.
In 2010, Parnell ran for a full term as governor and won the election. He defeated his opponent, Ethan Berkowitz, by more than 10 percentage points. This made him the first unelected Alaska governor to later be elected to the office.
Parnell ran for re-election in 2014 but lost in a very close race to Bill Walker. During the campaign, Parnell faced criticism. Some people disagreed with his support for tax cuts for oil companies. There were also concerns about how problems in the Alaska National Guard were handled.
Life After Politics
University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor
In 2021, Parnell was chosen to be the Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). As chancellor, he led the university as it recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. He focused on making college affordable and helping students succeed.
Under his leadership, UAA did not raise its tuition fees for several years. The number of students attending the university also began to grow again after a long period of decline. Parnell also helped the university get important historical papers from former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens.
Parnell retired as Chancellor on May 22, 2025.
Personal Life
Parnell married his college girlfriend, Sandy, in 1987. They moved to Anchorage, where Parnell started his law career. They have two daughters, Grace and Rachel.
In 2015, Parnell and his wife moved to Palmer, Alaska. He opened a new law firm there. In his retirement, Parnell plans to spend more time with his family and help coach new leaders in Alaska.
See also
In Spanish: Sean Parnell para niños
