From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage-

The nine state Senate Republicans today unanimously confirmed John Coghill to take North Pole Republican Sen. Gene Therriault's seat.

Gov. Sean Parnell earlier appointed Coghill, a Republican state representative from North Pole, to take the Senate seat that opened when Therriault resigned for a job advising Parnell on energy issues.

Coghill will caucus with the three members of the all-Republican Senate minority instead of the bipartisan Senate majority.

Therriault had been the Senate minority leader, a position taken by Anchorage Sen. Con Bunde.