Opinions

Rachel Parnell: My dad has demonstrated leadership as Alaska governor

As the daughter of Sean and Sandy Parnell, I have personally experienced six campaigns in my relatively short lifetime. Through each election season, I've learned it is simply easier to be a passive participant. It is easier to observe from afar, easier to text encouragement before a debate rather than watch it, and easier to avoid reading comments or blogs on any online news source. It is my defense mechanism, and not one I am proud of.

You see, I inherited many things from Dad -- his eyes, his sense of loyalty, his passion for people. What I did not inherit is his active approach in confronting conflict. He does not act on whims, he does not make emotion fueled in-the-moment decisions, and he does not let his temper get the best of him. His approach consists of three steps: he acquires the facts, he receives ideas from many perspectives, and he establishes a long-term solution.

He demonstrated this approach in education with the creation of the Alaska Performance Scholarships.

He demonstrated this approach in regard to the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault in our state through the Choose Respect campaign. He demonstrated this approach by choosing to pay down $3 billion of our unfunded pension liability, effectively lowering our payments for the next 25 years. He demonstrated this approach by rejecting Medicaid expansion because health care should not come in a one-size-fits-all format. He is currently demonstrating this approach in the midst of disappointing and unfortunate circumstances involving the Alaska National Guard.

As a child, I remember storming to my room and slamming the door only to have dad on my heels, fully prepared to talk things out. Confronting conflict with frankness and honesty isn't a mundane chore for him -- it is in his very nature. He does not have a defense mechanism. He has passionately loved me and the people of our state throughout his near 20-year career as a public servant.

Of course, I acknowledge that I am quite clearly biased, and many issues run too deep for me to completely comprehend. I understand that. But my father has consistently fought for me as his daughter, just as he consistently fights for Alaskans as the people closest to his heart. He does not do what is easier. He does what is right despite it often being the more difficult choice.

I realized that it was high time for me to attempt to emulate his active approach, and I humbly ask Alaskans to join me in fighting for him on Nov. 4.

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Rachel Parnell is the daughter of Sean and Sandy Parnell. She is a junior pursuing a history degree at Malone University and is very excited she'll be spending part of her senior year in Washington D.C.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Rachel Parnell

Rachel Parnell is the daughter of Gov. Sean Parnell and first lady Sandy Parnell.

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