Dan Popkey, longtime political reporter and columnist for the Idaho Statesman, is leaving journalism to become the Meridian-based press secretary for 1st District Congressman Raul Labrador, Labrador announced today. "I’ve learned that one has to have an exceptional communications strategy to effectively represent Idaho in Congress," Labrador said in a statement. "I know that Dan will help me better communicate my message to constituents and the media.”

Click below for Labrador's full announcement. The Statesman announced today that Popkey's resignation, after nearly three decades with the newspaper, is effective immediately; he starts his new job Monday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday | July 29, 2014

NEW SPOKESMAN JOINS LABRADOR STAFF

 

MERIDIAN – Congressman Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, is pleased to announce that longtime Idaho Statesman political reporter Dan Popkey will become his new press secretary.  Dan will be based in the Congressman’s Meridian office and will coordinate communications in Idaho and Washington, D.C.

“I’m very excited to have Dan on board as my new press secretary,” said Congressman Labrador. “He brings a wealth of experience and considerable knowledge of Idaho political history that will be a tremendous asset to me and my staff throughout the First Congressional District.  I’ve learned that one has to have an exceptional communications strategy to effectively represent Idaho in Congress. I know that Dan will help me better communicate my message to constituents and the media.”

Popkey began reporting on the congressional delegation and state government in 1987, and has covered 26 sessions of the Legislature.

Popkey started covering Congressman Labrador after his election to the Idaho House in 2006 and has continued to follow him since he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.

“I’ve come to deeply respect Congressman Labrador’s independence, integrity and fierce commitment to setting our nation’s fiscal house in order,” Popkey said. “It’s bittersweet to leave journalism, my first love, but I’m thrilled with the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned to help advance our state’s priorities in Washington.”

Popkey, 55, worked for three years as a reporter in California. In 1984, he joined the Statesman. “I’ve been privileged to work with people of great talent, character and devotion and I wish them the best,” he said.

He has a bachelor’s in political science from Santa Clara University (1980) and masters in journalism from Columbia University (1981). He was an American Political Science Association congressional fellow (1988-89) and University of Michigan journalism fellow (1997-98).

Born in Tucson, Ariz., Popkey attended public schools in Cupertino, Calif. His senior year of high school, 1975-76, he was a page in the U.S. House.

 

 

 

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