Ducey spokesman Daniel Scarpinato to lead governor’s staff

Gov. Doug Ducey has tapped his press spokesman Daniel Scarpinato to be his new chief of staff to replace Kirk Adams, who announced his resignation earlier today.

Scarpinato, who has worked for the governor for nearly four years, will take over as Ducey’s chief of staff sometime after Adams’ last day on Dec. 14.

On Twitter, Scarpinato said he is honored for the opportunity to serve as Ducey’s right-hand man.

“I’ve worked for and with the best, been trained by the best, and now I’m going to do my best!,” he tweeted.

Scarpinato was hired in January 2015. Up until recently, Scarpinato had taken a leave of absence from Ducey’s official office to serve as a senior advisor on the governor’s re-election campaign.

In a statement, Ducey praised Scarpinato’s experience and ability to get things done as qualities that give him great confidence in Scarpinato leading the Governor’s Office.

“Daniel Scarpinato was instrumental to the development and execution of our achievements during my first term as governor,” Ducey said. “He has also been a leader and collaborator among our team and staff — making meaningful contributions in policy, communications, and operations strategies.”

A Tucson native, Scarpinato also worked as the national press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C. and spokesman for the Arizona House GOP before joining Ducey’s team.

Scarpinato also comes from a journalism background, having worked as a political reporter for the Arizona Daily Star and briefly served as editor of the Arizona Capitol Times’ sister publication the Yellow Sheet Report.

Gretchen Conger, Ducey’s current deputy chief of staff for policy and budget, has also been promoted to serve as the Ninth Floor’s lone deputy chief of staff, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office.

It is not clear yet who will become Ducey’s new press spokesperson. Up until recently, Daniel Ruiz, the governor’s senior advisor for communications and policy strategy, has served as Ducey’s interim press spokesman.