By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Frank Ryan, the conservative CPA who ran in PA-17 congressional primary last year, will not pursue a bid for PA Auditor General.

Instead, Ryan said that he will devote his energy to charity.

“I am immediately withdrawing from public life as a candidate for any elected office,” he wrote. “Instead I will work diligently as a volunteer to serve those in need at the Good Shepherd Center, at a hospital in Haiti, and for my community in Pennsylvania. While I intend to continue writing and also lecturing as a CPA, my volunteer activities will consume much of my time.”

Last month, PoliticsPA was the first news outlet to report that Ryan was considering a bid. He had even changed his website to read “Candidate for Auditor General.”

His departure from the race leaves the GOP without an apparent candidate. Chet Beiler, the 2008 Republican candidate, specifically ruled out a run in an email to PoliticsPA.

State Rep. Eugene DePasquale (D-York) is actively pursuing the Democratic nomination. Allegheny County Executive and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato is rumored to be considering a run.

Current Auditor General Jack Wagner is term limited.

Below is an op-ed by Ryan further explaining his plans.

Future Plans
by Col. Frank Ryan, USMCR (ret)

I recently reached a milestone. Age sixty is a great age and a wonderful time for reflection.

My life has been extremely blessed with many great friends and memories that warm my heart. My family has been my greatest blessing. They have sacrificed so much to allow me to serve our Nation in the Marines.

Our Nation and our state are at a crossroads. What we do in the next few years will determine our future and, perhaps, our survival as a great nation.

I have spent my professional life working to keep organizations and people out of bankruptcy. I know the signs of failure all too well. The federal and state financial crises have become almost hopeless. The invoice for decades of government fiscal irresponsibility will be paid very soon. Many of our friends and neighbors who are good, smart, hard working people who played by the rules, will become economic casualties of the irresponsible, irrational behavior of politicians. Many Americans have already had their lives destroyed by governmental actions and a belief that you can have something for nothing.

While traveling the nation and the state on business and to discuss my political future, I often heard pleas for help from many hard working, dedicated people. When I spoke of my concerns about the economy and our future, almost everyone asked me what they can do. People’s sense of helplessness is palpable.

At the Good Shepherd Center where I volunteer as President of the Board of Directors, I saw for myself the impact on the center’s children because of severe state budget cuts. Emotionally vulnerable children were cut off from help because of budget shortfalls. There will be far more of that in the future.

Through all of this, I finally became convinced that, right now, I can best serve society by helping those in greatest need. Waiting until 2013 to take office in order to help fix our problems is too late. We can solve the problems now but only if we act now.

With this objective in mind, I am immediately withdrawing from public life as a candidate for any elected office. Instead I will work diligently as a volunteer to serve those in need at the Good Shepherd Center, at a hospital in Haiti, and for my community in Pennsylvania. While I intend to continue writing and also lecturing as a CPA, my volunteer activities will consume much of my time.

I intend to help build a Good Shepherd Center that is able to serve youngsters in need regardless of federal or state funding. I also intend to continue to build health care facilities in areas not properly served.

I get it that I do not need to be elected to anything to do what my heart tells me must be done.

I now intend to serve those in need and put them first. When I was a candidate for office, I asked for your help. Instead, I intend to ask others what I can do to help them.

I hope all of you understand my decision, pray for me and my family, and those in my care, and grant me the wisdom and the energy I must have to serve those in need. It is the right thing to do.

I am not asking for your vote now but I am asking for your prayers.

Frank Ryan specialized in corporate restructuring and helping keep organizations out of bankruptcy. He can be reached at fryan1951@aol.com.