Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Parnell to seek full term

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Republican inheriting the job as Alaska governor from resigning Sarah Palin plans to seek a full term in office in 2010.

Palin spokesman David Murrow said Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will run for a four-year term as governor.

The 46-year-old former state legislator will be sworn in as governor July 26, the date Palin steps down. The current term expires in early December 2010.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, abruptly announced her resignation Friday.

A social and political conservative, Parnell served four years each in the state House and Senate, starting in 1992, then worked for ConocoPhillips before taking a job as the deputy director of the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas.

Last year, he challenged U.S. Rep. Don Young but lost by 304 votes in the Republican primary.