Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced today the promotion of Joan Varsek to the position of Press Secretary and the selection of Mark Kubinski for the position of Associate General Counsel in the Office of the Governor.

Varsek has been a member of Governor Little’s staff since 2019. She has served as Governor Little’s Scheduler and will transition to Press Secretary starting Sept. 9. She is also Assistant Director of the Idaho Governor’s Cup. She earned her master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and her bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Boise State University. Varsek replaces Madison Hardy who starts her new job Friday as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Jim Risch.

Kubinski will come to the Office of the Governor after serving as Lead Counsel for the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. He previously worked in the Office of the Attorney General as Chief of the Criminal Law Division and as Lead Deputy Attorney General assigned to the Idaho Department of Correction. Prior to state service, Kubinski worked in private practice. He earned his law degree from Washburn University School of Law and his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California. Kubinski fills the vacancy created by the recent promotion of Andy Snook to the role of General Counsel in the Office of the Governor.

“I am pleased Joan Varsek and Mark Kubinski have chosen to use their talent to serve the people of Idaho, and I am confident they both will help us advance my goal of making Idaho the place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay,” Governor Little said. “I am also deeply grateful to Madison Hardy for working so hard as Press Secretary in my office for the past two years. I have a lot of confidence in her abilities and am happy for her as she continues to serve Idaho in the Office of Senator Risch.”