STARKSMIN, Wellington -- There's been somewhat of a political earthquake in Wellington over the past 48 hours.
Just as candidates were beginning to secure the backing of party leaders and wealthy financiers, and just as the candidate rosters were nearly set for the primary election, Secretary of State Robyn Ryder (C) announced he will not seek re-election and will instead run for Attorney General instead.
Ryder made the announcement late Monday night from his home in Starksmin.
His announcement has shaken the political landscape in Wellington, where Conservatives were hoping their roster of candidates was finally set after several candidates switched races or dropped out.
In a video posted on his campaign website, Mr Ryder said he has "loved" serving as Secretary of State, but believes "it's time for a change" in his political career.
"Being secretary of state is great and I love it. But I feel like I can better use my skills as attorney general. I'm a lawyer, and being a lawyer, I have experience in the courtroom. I have experience standing up for the people of Wellington as secretary of state. And now I'd like to continue fighting for Wellingtonians by serving as their next attorney general," said Ryder.
He continued, "Right now the attorney general's office is just not being run as effectively as it should be. The attorney general is supposed to stand up for Wellington's interests, protect our citizens and our children, and defend the Wellington Constitution. And over the past four years, we have seen very little work on our behalf from the current administration."
Ryder's move not only shocked party leaders and political observers, it also angered fellow Conservative Liz McKinn, who announced she was running for attorney general back in January.
"I feel betrayed by Robyn Ryder right now," McKinn said in an interview with a Starksmin radio station. "I thought he was my friend and my political ally, but now he's my opponent. I think the least he could have done was call me and give me a heads up he was going to do this, instead of not saying anything and then I wake up to see it in the paper the next morning. It was an ambush."
McKinn, a state senator from Hollam and former lieutenant governor candidate, previously announced in 2013 she was running for governor. She later dropped out of the governor's race and decided to run for attorney general after Assemblyman Wade Quanson (C) entered the gubernatorial race.
In his video statement, Mr Ryder acknowledged there were other candidates that had already declared for the attorney general position, but he said he believes he has the best chance of winning.
"I respect the other candidates already in the race, but I believe I am the only person who can beat Mike Kozinski," said Ryder.
Mike Kozinski, a Nationalist, is the incumbent. He is seeking a second term in 2014.
Few people of knew of Ryder's last-minute switch, according to sources close to the situation.
Ryder, who has served as secretary of state since 2008, had previously said he would seek re-election in 2014.
In 2013, Ryder toyed with running for governor in 2014, but decided against it.
But sources close to his campaign, who asked not to be identified because they were not permitted to speak to the media, said Ryder was growing discontent as secretary of state.
"It's a low-exposure job. You don't get as much credit or limelight as the governor does or the attorney general does. I think he's bored as secretary of state, and I think he also knows that jumping from the attorney generalship to the governorship is a lot easier than going from secretary of state to governor. You can rack up a lot more achievement and accomplishments and really build your resume up as AG. That's something you can't really do as secretary of state," one source told The Chamber.
The source added that if Ryder wins the attorney general seat, he will be better-positioned to win the governorship down the road.
"Attorney General really fits his personality more than secretary of state does anyway. He has a very principled, stubborn, combative personality and that really lends itself to the attorney general's job more so than the secretary of state's job, which is supposed to be more diplomatic and non-controversial."
Though she's clearly angry, Liz McKinn has not indicated her response to Ryder's entry into the attorney general race. Some wonder if McKinn will drop out of the race now that Ryder is in the picture.
Mike Kozinski's campaign has been silent as well. A campaign spokesman, when contacted by the reporters Tuesday, only said the campaign wanted "to see how things play out" with the CNS intra-party conflict that appears poised to happen.
Both candidates for governor, Wade Quanson (C) and incumbent Pierre Carten (N) did not comment on the matter Tuesday.
Ryder's switch also creates an opening for candidates of both parties who are now more inclined to run for the vacant secretary of state position.
His decision also leaves the CNS with an open seat that was once safe but is now vulnerable to takeover.
Several candidates from both parties have expressed interest in running to succeed Ryder in the secretary of state's office.
Grapevine County Auditor Colleen Daniels (C), a rising star in the state CNS party, appears to be the leading Conservative candidate thus far, while Nationalists immediately pointed to Lois Mjeden as a possible candidate for their party.
Mjeden is the wife of Starksmin Mayor Nikolaas Mjeden.
Having been born in Serbia, raised in Estonia, and educated in Sydney, Australia before settling in Wellington, where she works for several non-profit organizations, Mrs Mjeden has a compelling life story that Nationalists say would make her a strong contender.
Whoever enters the race, one thing is certain: Wellington will have no shortage of political theatre this go-round.
Just as candidates were beginning to secure the backing of party leaders and wealthy financiers, and just as the candidate rosters were nearly set for the primary election, Secretary of State Robyn Ryder (C) announced he will not seek re-election and will instead run for Attorney General instead.
Ryder made the announcement late Monday night from his home in Starksmin.
His announcement has shaken the political landscape in Wellington, where Conservatives were hoping their roster of candidates was finally set after several candidates switched races or dropped out.
In a video posted on his campaign website, Mr Ryder said he has "loved" serving as Secretary of State, but believes "it's time for a change" in his political career.
"Being secretary of state is great and I love it. But I feel like I can better use my skills as attorney general. I'm a lawyer, and being a lawyer, I have experience in the courtroom. I have experience standing up for the people of Wellington as secretary of state. And now I'd like to continue fighting for Wellingtonians by serving as their next attorney general," said Ryder.
He continued, "Right now the attorney general's office is just not being run as effectively as it should be. The attorney general is supposed to stand up for Wellington's interests, protect our citizens and our children, and defend the Wellington Constitution. And over the past four years, we have seen very little work on our behalf from the current administration."
Ryder's move not only shocked party leaders and political observers, it also angered fellow Conservative Liz McKinn, who announced she was running for attorney general back in January.
"I feel betrayed by Robyn Ryder right now," McKinn said in an interview with a Starksmin radio station. "I thought he was my friend and my political ally, but now he's my opponent. I think the least he could have done was call me and give me a heads up he was going to do this, instead of not saying anything and then I wake up to see it in the paper the next morning. It was an ambush."
McKinn, a state senator from Hollam and former lieutenant governor candidate, previously announced in 2013 she was running for governor. She later dropped out of the governor's race and decided to run for attorney general after Assemblyman Wade Quanson (C) entered the gubernatorial race.
In his video statement, Mr Ryder acknowledged there were other candidates that had already declared for the attorney general position, but he said he believes he has the best chance of winning.
"I respect the other candidates already in the race, but I believe I am the only person who can beat Mike Kozinski," said Ryder.
Mike Kozinski, a Nationalist, is the incumbent. He is seeking a second term in 2014.
Few people of knew of Ryder's last-minute switch, according to sources close to the situation.
Ryder, who has served as secretary of state since 2008, had previously said he would seek re-election in 2014.
In 2013, Ryder toyed with running for governor in 2014, but decided against it.
But sources close to his campaign, who asked not to be identified because they were not permitted to speak to the media, said Ryder was growing discontent as secretary of state.
"It's a low-exposure job. You don't get as much credit or limelight as the governor does or the attorney general does. I think he's bored as secretary of state, and I think he also knows that jumping from the attorney generalship to the governorship is a lot easier than going from secretary of state to governor. You can rack up a lot more achievement and accomplishments and really build your resume up as AG. That's something you can't really do as secretary of state," one source told The Chamber.
The source added that if Ryder wins the attorney general seat, he will be better-positioned to win the governorship down the road.
"Attorney General really fits his personality more than secretary of state does anyway. He has a very principled, stubborn, combative personality and that really lends itself to the attorney general's job more so than the secretary of state's job, which is supposed to be more diplomatic and non-controversial."
Though she's clearly angry, Liz McKinn has not indicated her response to Ryder's entry into the attorney general race. Some wonder if McKinn will drop out of the race now that Ryder is in the picture.
Mike Kozinski's campaign has been silent as well. A campaign spokesman, when contacted by the reporters Tuesday, only said the campaign wanted "to see how things play out" with the CNS intra-party conflict that appears poised to happen.
Both candidates for governor, Wade Quanson (C) and incumbent Pierre Carten (N) did not comment on the matter Tuesday.
Ryder's switch also creates an opening for candidates of both parties who are now more inclined to run for the vacant secretary of state position.
His decision also leaves the CNS with an open seat that was once safe but is now vulnerable to takeover.
Several candidates from both parties have expressed interest in running to succeed Ryder in the secretary of state's office.
Grapevine County Auditor Colleen Daniels (C), a rising star in the state CNS party, appears to be the leading Conservative candidate thus far, while Nationalists immediately pointed to Lois Mjeden as a possible candidate for their party.
Mjeden is the wife of Starksmin Mayor Nikolaas Mjeden.
Having been born in Serbia, raised in Estonia, and educated in Sydney, Australia before settling in Wellington, where she works for several non-profit organizations, Mrs Mjeden has a compelling life story that Nationalists say would make her a strong contender.
Whoever enters the race, one thing is certain: Wellington will have no shortage of political theatre this go-round.
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