Meet Sean and Sandy Parnell

Sean Parnell is Alaska’s 10th governor. Since taking office, he’s moved Alaska forward on all fronts.

Leadership

Governor Parnell leads with action, not words. In just one year as governor, he’s led the way to a great future for Alaskans. Now, Alaska is first in the nation in job creation and has the second strongest overall economy. His efforts to improve the lives of Alaskans involve a simple approach to governing: tax less, spend less, save more, and invest in the infrastructure

Alaska needs to grow our economy.

Sean Parnell’s record of achievement includes:

• Moving forward on the natural gas pipeline
• Working to bring in-state gas to Alaskan markets
• Cutting cruise ship head taxes and increasing tourism marketing
• Introducing oil and gas tax credits which have created real results in the Cook Inlet region
• Putting small and medium-sized contractors to work
• Fighting the federal government on overreaching health reform
• Motivating Alaskan students with the Alaska Performance Scholarship
• Fighting to end the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault

Experience

Governor Parnell was 10 years old in 1973 when he arrived in Alaska with his family. Working in his parents’ small retail business after school taught him the value of hard work and treating people with respect and dignity.

In 1980 he graduated from East Anchorage High School and earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). While at college, he met Sandy, a business student at PLU. He then earned a law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now known as Seattle University School of Law). Sandy and he were married in 1987 and moved to Alaska where they have raised their two daughters.

While running his own small law practice in Anchorage, he was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1992 and 1994 and elected to the State Senate for four years beginning in 1996. Throughout his eight years of legislative service he served on the Finance Committees of the House and Senate.

As Co-Chair of Senate Finance, he worked alongside colleagues to write a budget that met the needs of Alaskans while living within our means. He continues to apply that principle as he serves Alaskans as governor.

In 2006, with the gracious support of Alaskans, He was elected lieutenant governor. And he became Alaska’s 10th governor last July.

Sean and Sandy have two daughters, one in college and another in high school. Like many Alaskan parents, Sandy and Sean work to ensure their daughters’ future is bright. That's an attitude Governor Parnell takes to work every day as governor with a focus on jobs and family, the two things at the heart of a good life for Alaskans.

Values

Sean Parnell is a man of integrity, who cares deeply about his family, his community, and his state. His conservative values and faith have guided his work in the governor’s office and beyond.

He has a heart and a passion for Alaskans. As a young man, he learned the value of working hard every day in his family business in Anchorage. As a business owner, he learned what it took to make a payroll. As a legislator, he made the tough budget cuts that our state needed when oil was $9 a barrel. Despite pressure from his colleagues to spend more, he held the line as the Co-Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. And, a Governor, he vetoed hundreds of millions in spending when the legislature went too far.

In politics, he’s remained focused on a clear, positive vision for the future. Sean believes politics is about policy, not petty personal attacks, but Alaskans future as a people.

Sean and Sandy have been married for twenty-three years. And, as a father, he’s proud of his two daughters.

Meet Sandy

Over the years, Sean and Sandy have found Alaska is one of the best places raise a family, and they have been blessed to raise their daughters, Grace and Rachel, here. As Alaskans, they have so much they work to ensure a bright future for every one of our children.

Sean and Sandy met in college. Sandy was finishing her bachelor’s in business administration, and Sean was a pre-law student. Shortly after law school they were married and started their married life together in Anchorage in 1987.

To Sandy, nothing is more important than family. As a mother, she’s worked every day to make sure that their two daughters do well in school and know the importance of faith, family, and community. She’s so proud of their daughters, Grace, who at college this fall and Rachel will be a junior in high school this year. She knows her children have a wonderful future ahead of them, and she hopes that her work as First Lady will help create opportunities for every Alaskan to make this state the home we know it can be.

Public service has been a part of Sandy’s life since Sean first ran for office in 1992. She still remembers the days of Sean’s first campaign, when they went door to door with the kids in tow and asked Alaskans for their vote. Times have changed since then, but their work to improve life for Alaskans hasn’t.During Grace’s junior year in high school, she and Sandy began taking an American Sign Language class at UAA. This class opened their eyes to needs in Alaska’s deaf community. As First Lady, Sandy has strongly advocated for the deaf community and early childhood education in Alaska.

To improve the lives of Alaskans who are deaf or hard of hearing, Sandy has advocated for the use of video phone technology in state government and called for the early detection and support required to meet the needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Sandy’s hope is that with enough attention called to these communities needs, Alaska will continue to make progress for Alaska’s deaf and hard of hearing.

As governor, Sandy’s husband has supported a variety of initiatives that have lowered taxes, created jobs, improved education, and kept our families safe. With progress being made on the Alaska Performance Scholarship championed by Sean, Sandy is focused on improving early childhood education.

Sandy hopes you’ll join her in voting for Alaska’s future in November. Let’s work together for a bright, successful future of our great state.