Daniel Ruiz II
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Daniel Ruiz II | |
|---|---|
 Daniel Ruiz II in 2022 | |
| Chief of Staff to the Governor of Arizona | |
| In office August 5, 2021 – January 2, 2023 | |
| Governor | Doug Ducey |
| Preceded by | Daniel Ruiz II |
| Succeeded by | Allie Bones |
| Chief Operating Officer | |
| Doug Ducey | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Scarpinato |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Daniel Ruiz II March 25, 1984 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Phoenix (BS) |
Daniel Ruiz II (born March 25, 1984) is a Mexican-American and LGBTQ+ government official and an American business executive who served as the Arizona Governor Chief of Staff between 2021 and 2023 in the administration of Doug Ducey.[1] Ruiz served in various other leadership roles in the Ducey administration from 2015 on, including Director of Media Affairs, Communications Director, Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor, and Chief of Operations.[2] He left the Chief of Staff position with Ducey's departure from the Governor's office in 2023. According to the nonprofit Chicanos Por La Causa, Ruiz was the first Hispanic Chief of Staff to serve the Arizona Governor since the 1980s. [3] He currently works as Chief of Staff for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Ruiz was born and raised in Maryvale, a community in Phoenix, Arizona. His grandfather, Frank Canez, was politically engaged running for Phoenix City Council District 7 in 1983 but losing the race;[5] he later ran, won and served as an elected multi-term Democratic Constable.[6]
Ruiz's parents worked hard to improve their circumstances. His mother started as a school lunch employee, while his father was a dishwasher. Over time, they progressed to better-paying jobs—his mother became a bank manager, and his father, benefiting from union membership, became a carpenter superintendent.[7]
The family moved to Goodyear, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, where Ruiz attended Millennium High School and graduated in 2023. He received a $500 journalism scholarship from the West Valley View newspaper, which he used to pay for his first community college class. In 2012, at the age of 28, Ruiz graduated from the University of Phoenix.[8]
Ruiz graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2012 at 28-years-old. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2021/08/05/daniel-scarpinato-steps-down-arizona-gov-duceys-chief-staff/5498861001/
Government career
[edit]Maricopa County Recorder’s Office
[edit]Ruiz accepted a position with the Maricopa County Elections Department working for County Recorder Helen Purcell.[9]
Arizona Clean Elections Commission
[edit]By 2010 he was working as the Clean Elections Campaign Finance Manager overseeing candidate compliance.[10] In 2013 He served as the commission's Acting Director.[11]
Arizona Governor's Office
[edit]2015, Ruiz was hired by Governor Ducey's Office as Director of Media Affairs, was promoted to Communications Director, served as Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor. The same year he was selected as member of the 2015 Flinn-Brown Center for Civic Leadership Cohort.[12]
In 2018, he helped plan the state's memorial service for Sen. John McCain. Ruiz was appointed Chief Operating Officer in January 2020 after the departure of Gilbert Davidson, the former town manager of Marana, Arizona from the position.[13] In the COO role he oversaw operations of all state agencies and managed Ducey's cabinet.
Pandemic
[edit]Serving as the Chief Operating Officer, Ruiz took on a leadership role in the state's Covid-19 response. He worked to increase testing capacity and coordinated with several businesses and state agencies to open the 24/7 vaccination sites including the Glendale State Farm Stadium. The state also opened a vaccination site at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.[14] On August 6, 2021, Ruiz was appointed Chief of Staff, the top position in the governor's office overseeing Arizona state operations.[15][16]
Public Engagement and Blue Cross Blue Shield
[edit]In 2023, Ruiz was appointed Chief of Staff at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association of Arizona. In this role, Ruiz is responsible for advancing institutional priorities, fostering collaboration and accountability among staff, overseeing the achievement of the company's strategic goals, and managing both internal and external communications.[17] In 2024 Ruiz was elected to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Board of Trustees.[18] Ruiz regularly speaks on public panels on topics of political engagement, civic responsibility, community involvement and election integrity.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ Latch, Lacey, Arizona Republic, Scarpinato, Ducey’s chief of staff, to leave administration, August 6, 2021 A8.
- ^ Arizona Daily Sun, 2 top aids to Doug Ducey Leaving for New Jobs, August 6, 2021, A3.
- ^ "Daniel Ruiz: From Maryvale to Arizona Governor's Chief of Staff". 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Daniel Ruiz | AZBlue".
- ^ Whiting, Brent, Arizona Republic, JP, constable races are ho-hum affairs, October 18, 2000, 134.
- ^ Pat, Sallen, Arizona Republic, Candidates Fear Voter Apathy, October 18, 2000, 134.
- ^ Dana, Joe, KPNX NBC Affiliate, Daniel Ruiz: From Maryvale to Arizona Governor’s Chief of Staff, October 6, 2021.
- ^ Dana, Joe, KPNX NBC Affiliate, Daniel Ruiz: From Maryvale to Arizona Governor’s Chief of Staff, October 6, 2021.
- ^ https://assets.nfib.com/nfibcom/Yellow-Sheet.pdf
- ^ Lee, Michelle Ye Hee, Arizoan Republic, Candidates Violate Clean Elections Rule,
- ^ Fischer, Howard, Arizona Daily Star, Void Increased Campaign Limits, July 18, 2013, A6
- ^ "Ruiz II, Daniel".
- ^ KTAR News, January 6, 2020, https://ktar.com/story/2907850/arizona-gov-ducey-appoints-daniel-ruiz-as-states-new-coo/
- ^ Steinbach, Alison. And Leingang, Rachel, Arizoan Republic, Positive Percentage highest in the US, June 9, 2020, A10.
- ^ Yellow Sheet Report, One daniel Leaves, Arizona Capitol Reports, August 5, 2021, https://assets.nfib.com/nfibcom/Yellow-Sheet.pdf
- ^ The Associated Press and 13 News Staff, 2 top aides to Gov. Doug Ducey leave; New Chief of Staff named, Aug. 5, 2021
- ^ "Daniel Ruiz | AZBlue".
- ^ "Our Team".
- ^ "2024 Diversifying Political Engagement: The Hispanic Communities Perspectives". YouTube.