Sean Coghill-Ross
Sean-Coghill-Ross (born March 9, 1956) is an Alaskan politician and former businessman serving as the Prime Minister of Alaska since 2018. A member of the conservative National Union Party, Coghill-Ross is a member of the House of Commons of Alaska, representing the small village of Nelson's Lagoon in western Alaska. Before entering politics, Coghill-Ross was the CEO of Coghill-Ross Fishing Company
Sean Coghill-Ross | |
---|---|
Prime Minister of Alaska | |
Assumed office November 18th, 2018 | |
President | Nicolas McCarty |
Preceded by | Nancy Gardner |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office April 8th, 2016 – November 18th, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Winston Liam |
Succeeded by | Nancy Gardner |
Member of the House of Commons for Nelson Lagoon (Kodiak's 3rd district) | |
Assumed office November 14th, 2006 | |
Preceded by | Gus Cross |
Personal details | |
Born |
Juneau, Juneau Province, Alaska | March 9, 1956
Political party | National Union |
Spouse(s) | Alexandra Henderson |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater |
University of Juneau (BA) Seattle University (MA) |
Religion | Baptist |
Coghill-Ross was born in Juneau as a first generation Alaskan. He would attend and graduate from both the University of Seattle and the University of Juneau, obtaining a master's degree in business administration. After several failed business ventures in Astoria, Coghill-Ross would return to Alaska and began working for his father's local fishing company. Coghill-Ross would help transform the small fishery into one of the largest fisheries in Alaska, becoming CEO of the newly-created Coghill-Ross Fishing Company following the retirement of his father in 1989. Because of his business success, Coghill-Ross would become Alaska's first millionaire. Always having an interest in politics, Coghill-Ross would resign as chief executive officer of his company in order to run for a seat in the House of Commons as a member of the National Union Party. He would be elected to Parliament in 2006.
As a member of the House of Commons, Coghill-Ross would be known for his socially conservative and economically libertarian beliefs. He would be opposed to the Alaska for Everyone Act, which would provide protections for minority groups in Alaska and the Protect our Economy Act, which would have enacted a series of regulations and restrictions of Alaska's natural gas and fishing industries. In 2016, Coghill-Ross would be selected by his peers to become the Leader of the Opposition following the resignation of Winston Liam after a ethics scandal. In the 2018 general election, Coghill-Ross would oversee massive gains by the National Union Party, winning a majority in the House of Commons and becoming Prime Minister of Alaska.
Politically, Coghill-Ross identifies as a social conservative and a economic liberal, being open to a number of libertarian ideas. He is opposed to gay marriage, though believes the issue is "not relevant" as it was before. He is also an opponent of abortion, referring to the practice as "infanticide", and supports the promotion of Judeo-Christian values in Alaskan schools, believing that Alaskan society is "morally bankrupt". He also supports federal funding for Native Alaskan tribes. On economic issues, Coghill-Ross is an opponent of most forms of welfare, though is supportive of Social Security and programs supporting single parents. He is also an opponent of the creation of a single payer healthcare system and is a staunch opponent of both Socialism and Landonism. On foreign policy, Coghill-Ross is supportive of the Conference of American States, though does not support greater unification. He is also a supporter of Alaska's continued membership in the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization and the League of Nations.