Fran Flener, the state drug director since 2007, is retiring effective Thursday, the governor's office announced Monday.
Before being tapped for the post, Flener, 63, had a background in substance-abuse treatment. The drug director coordinates the state's drug programs and policies and serves at the pleasure of the governor.
She will be replaced by Steve Varady, the program manager in the drug director's office, for the remainder of Gov. Mike Beebe's term, which ends in January, the governor's office said in a news release.
Varady has been in his post since 2009.
A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Varady is a certified law enforcement instructor for drug abuse and autism-spectrum disorders. He helped develop legislation establishing the Arkansas Prescription Monitoring Program in 2009 and was a member of the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Autism Subcommittee.
"I thank Fran for her service as drug director and for her long private-sector career in substance-abuse treatment," Beebe said in the release. "She has earned an enjoyable retirement and will leave knowing that the office is in good hands with Steve at the helm."
Varady's salary was still being worked out Monday with the state Office of Personnel Management at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, a spokesman for the governor said. Flener drew an annual salary of $81,397.81.
Metro on 07/29/2014