Sean Parnell was sworn in as Alaska’s 10th governor Sunday, replacing Sarah Palin, who abruptly announced plans to resign earlier this month.
Parnell and Palin are Republicans and they ran for office in 2006 on a joint ticket. Parnell has said he plans no major personnel or policy departures as he prepares to fill the remainder of Palin’s term. He has also said he plans to run for a full term in 2010.
He was sworn in during the governor’s annual Fairbanks picnic, which drew an estimated crowd of about 5,000.
The head of the Alaska National Guard, Lieut. Gen. Craig Campbell, was sworn in at the same event as “temporary substitute lieutenant governor.”
Campbell has not been in the line of succession, but he is expected to be confirmed as lieutenant governor by the Legislature during a special session Aug.10, according to Parnell’s press office.
