In a Tweet yesterday afternoon Governor Hobbs mentioned she’s naming Jennifer (Jennie) Cunico to be the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. In January Governor Hobbs had asked Cunico to be the acting director pending Dr. Theresa Cullen’s start date. Sadly, that nomination was sabotaged by the Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Director Nominations (Hoffman), and Cunico has continued to be in the acting director post until yesterday.
Jennie Cunico becomes Gov. Katie Hobbs’ pick at AZ Health Department
Professional Background
Ms. Cunico has worked at ADHS since 2014. For the first 5 years (2014–2019) she was an assistant bureau chief for emergency preparedness. For the second half of 2019 she was the deputy head of ADHS’ human resources department.
She was the chief professional development & community engagement officer for the next 3 years. That position didn’t exist when I was director & I don’t see it on the ADHS Org Chart, so I’m not sure what that job entails. In May 2022 former Interim Director Don Herrington promoted her to be the deputy director for operations – responsible for procurement, accounting, personnel and I.T.
Education
Ms. Cunico has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from ASU (1990) and a Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix (2004).
The Road Ahead
Ms. Cunico was in an acting position from January through yesterday. Her name wasn’t submitted to the Senate as the nominee during the 2023 legislative session. With this new decision, the Governor is supposed to turn in Ms. Cunico’s nomination to the Senate for confirmation in the first 2 weeks of the 2024 legislative session (ARS 38-211C).
At that point, the ARS 38-211E ‘one year clock’ will begin. If the Senate takes no action during the 2024 legislative session, Ms. Cunico could continue to be the official director until January 15, 2025 – two years after having taken up the director post (despite the 1-year limitation in ARS 38-211E).
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Note: Here are the statutory qualifications for the ADHS director position:
ARS 36-102 Department of Health Services; Director; Qualifications
The director shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38-211 and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The director shall be a person who has:
- Administrative experience in the private sector, with progressively increasing responsibilities.
- An educational background that prepares the director for the administrative responsibilities assigned to the position.
- Health related experience which insures familiarity with the peculiarities of health problems.