His transition from the office of lieutenant governor to governor, which happened in whirlwind fashion a few weeks ago when former Gov. Sarah Palin abruptly resigned, has so far been relatively smooth, he said.

"It certainly wasn't expected at the time but it's been a pretty seamless transition. It helped having been in the state house and the state senate, having had leadership responsibilities with the senate finance committee and having served with this cabinet. It seemed like I was ready and the team was ready," he said.

The family, including teenage daughters Grace and Rachel, is supportive despite the newfound attention and hectic schedule, said Sandy Parnell.

"It's been a good month ... really busy. Some days are kind of normal and others aren't. We're blessed with good kids," she said.

Immediately following his swearing in, Parnell focused his attention on repairing communication between the governor's office and the legislature, something that several legislators - including Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Rep. Paul Seaton, R-Homer - have said was lacking in the previous administration.

"I've worked hard to repair there. I just said, 'I'm here. Let's talk. Let's begin building a rapport where we can actually govern as the legislative branch and the executive branch.' I've begun that bridge-building," said Parnell.

With the legislature set to gavel in Jan. 19, Parnell said his top priorities would be the economy and Alaskan families.

The state's economy has faltered but is not nearly in the desperate situation of other states like California, said Parnell. While it's true that next year's budget, particularly the capital budget, will be "skinny," the governor's office will be focused on getting more bang for its buck.

In an effort focused on "more results for the money," Parnell said he would be changing the way that budgets for the state's various departments are drawn up. Instead of beginning with preliminary numbers for each department, Parnell said he intends to ask each individual commissioner what their top three priorities will be for the year.

"There's a little bit of an unsettling there because they're used to coming in with their administrative directors who can spew numbers. But I'm starting them with a new direction, asking what their mission is and for three top results or outcomes they want to see. Then we'll get into the numbers discussion," he said.

As for family-oriented legislation, Parnell said he planned to introduce initiatives in the coming weeks that would focus on three main areas - merit scholarships for high school students, nutrition and fitness education and help for at-risk seventh and eighth-graders.

"I'd like to work to create a greater alignment between the tremendous nonprofit resources we have in Alaska with the very real need that's there. I intend to use the bully pulpit that I have to improve kids lives," he said.

Parnell's interview with the Homer News covered a range of subjects, including the next steps necessary to build a natural gas pipeline, a recent court ruling allowing Shell Alaska to continue exploration in the Beaufort Sea and his long-term vision for growing Alaska's economy.

To read the rest of our interview with Gov. Sean Parnell, be sure to pick up Thursday's print edition of the Homer News.

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaron.selbig.@homernews.com.