Coghill's name was one of three forwarded to Parnell by District F Republicans. The others were former North Pole state Sen. Mike Miller and Scott Smith of Valdez, the District 12 chairman of the Republican Party. They were the only three to apply.
During a news conference in Fairbanks, Parnell said he interviewed all three and settled on Coghill. The governor called him a person of integrity who is "able to listen to people of different views."
Coghill has a long Alaska political pedigree.
He's the son of Jack Coghill, a member of the Alaska Constitutional Convention. The elder Coghill was mayor of Nenana, a state senator and lieutenant governor in the Walter Hickel administration.
John Coghill Jr., 59, was elected to the state House in 1998. He rose to be majority leader from 2003 to 2006 and last session was chairman of the Rules Committee, which oversees legislation reaching the House floor.
He has worked in jail ministries and as a family counselor. He lists his current occupation as small business owner.
Coghill has been known as a strong proponent of the Alaska Constitution, even handing them out during campaigns. He must be confirmed by the nine Republicans in the Senate.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem, but you never know in this world," Coghill said.
Therriault was one of four Republicans outside the Senate Majority, a coalition of 10 Democrats and six Republicans.
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