First on the agenda Monday for Alaska's new governor: a meeting with dozens of Fairbanks-area pastors.

Gov. Sean Parnell, sworn in Sunday after Sarah Palin's abrupt resignation 16 months early, had a busy first full day, including the breakfast meeting with pastors, a question-and-answer lunch with business leaders, and two sessions with news media.

Parnell stayed an extra day in Fairbanks after the inauguration and was planning to head back to Anchorage Monday evening.

"I think we're off to a great start," Parnell told reporters. "I'm going to focus on the economy, and I'm going to focus on our families and our people."

Parnell's day began with a breakfast session with about 60 pastors and staff initiated by the ministers.

"They just made a request to the office and said, 'Can we meet with you as the new governor to pray for you and our state and also to hear from you about your vision for the state?' " Parnell said.

Parnell said he talked with them about doing more to bring in private resources to help with social needs.

"For example, at-risk kids need foster care parents. At-risk kids need Big Brothers, Big Sisters," said Parnell, referring to the mentorship program.

Asked whether he intended to rev up the faith community's role, Parnell said, "I will bring whatever private resources to the table I can, including the faith-based community, to meet the very real human needs around us."

At lunch, Parnell spoke to the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce board at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, then opened up to questions.

Chamber members wanted to know his position on developing an in-state natural gas line.

"I was able to reassure them that Alaska's resources are for Alaskans first and that I remain committed to developing an in-state gas option," Parnell said. He said he plans to continue a workgroup that Palin put in place and expects more meetings this week.

He told the group he intends to visit chambers all around the state.

"Knowing he's going to go from chamber to chamber and stay tight that way was a real positive thing coming out of our board meeting today," said Barb Lorz-Wammack, the Fairbanks chamber's executive director.

Parnell also met Monday with the editorial board of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and, later, with reporters.

His willingness to sit down with reporters contrasted with Palin's approach during her last months in office. She granted almost no sit-down interviews to Alaska media but sometimes answered questions through e-mail; she also took to communicating directly with the public through Twitter.

While Palin's relations with legislators were testy after her dramatic run for vice president, Parnell told reporters that he's been reaching out to lawmakers and intends to "be a regular presence in Juneau during the legislative session."

"My door on the third floor is always open," Parnell said.

House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, said Monday he appreciates the open dialogue. He said he had spoken with Parnell in recent weeks about the upcoming special session, the confirmation of Craig Campbell as lieutenant governor, and Parnell's desire to block the state's eight-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax on Sept. 1. Chenault said the gas tax issue likely will not be added to the special session agenda, though, despite Parnell's wishes.

Chenault put in a call Monday to congratulate the new governor and was waiting for a call back.

"He's going to have to feel his way and determine what exactly his policies will be and how he's going to try to implement them," Chenault said.

Parnell said he plans no personnel or policy changes as governor.

One Palin critic, Andree McLeod, called on Parnell to ban the use of private e-mail accounts for state business. Palin used Yahoo e-mail her first years in office, which created problems in terms of complying with public records requests and also raised security issues after someone was able to hack into her Yahoo account.

"I have made it a habit to use state accounts for state e-mail," Parnell said. He said he only used his private account a handful of times and turned over those communications to comply with records requests.

He said an executive order isn't needed because the policy already is state e-mail for state business.

Parnell said he plans to split his time between Anchorage and Juneau in the fall, then live in Juneau full time during the regular legislative session starting in January. His family's plans are still being worked out.

"My first priority is not to rip out our oldest from her senior year of (high) school," Parnell said.

Find Lisa Demer online at adn.com/contact/ldemer or call 257-4390. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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