More Cabinet Members Leaving Byelle Administration

GNN NEWS--Politics

Following Dr. Ann Kocheni's lead, several other prominent members of President Byelle's Cabinet have announced their resignations.

Last week, Kocheni, who is the Deputy Secretary of Health, announced she is resigning her post to run for delegate in Carova. On Friday, more officials announced they too are leaving. Among them, Dr. Helen Parnamy, Sec. of Taxation/Currency; Robert Austin, Sec. of National Security; Emily Savage, Sec. of the Environment/Protected Lands; Kevin P. Hindricks, Sec. of the Economy; and Claude Gormasson, Sec. of Transportation.

Three other Deputy Secretaries are expected to announce their resignations on Monday, as well, according to an Administration official, who asked not to be identified due to protocol which prohibits members of the Administration talking to the media on resignations.

Furthermore, the same source told GNN NEWS that there are other Cabinet members that will step down later on this year, sometime before or after Christmas.

As for now, Kocheni and Parnamy will be running for office--but not as Conservatives. Kocheni will be running on the NAT ticket in Carova, while Parnamy will be running as an Independent in her home state of Damoign.

On Thursday, President Byelle told a reporter at a press conference that he was "disappointed" Kocheni was running as a Nationalist, but he also added that Mrs. Kocheni, who describes herself as a "lifelong Nationalist," "has the right and freedom to choose who she wants to be and is not obligated to be apart of one party or another."

Kocheni, who is the first Asian-Grassadellan to work as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Health, said she was "honored" to have served as long as she did, during both President Byelle's Administration and former President David Houston's four-year term as well.

"I have enjoyed the last eleven years. I will always treasure my time at the Department of Health. At this time, though, I feel called away from the Department, and instead believe I should run for delegate in Carova," Kocheni said. "I feel I can take what I've learned at the department and use it productively in the House of Delegates."

There is still speculation that Dr. Megan Sellious, Sec. of Education, may run for delegate in Ceona. However, Sellious has denied any plans to do so for the past several months. There was also rumor last month that Dep. Sec. of Education, Deborah Nassey, was leaving her post to run for delegate in Lial. Nassey also denied those rumors.

There is no word on who will replace the departing members of the Cabinet. President Byelle's Press Secretary did tell reporters that "the President is considering some very qualified people to take over these positions."