District Attorney Seth Ryan has announced he’s resigning from his position, effective Oct. 31.

The Republican incumbent was running, unopposed, for his second term in office, and was on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. Ryan sent the announcement in an email to others on Monday morning, citing several factors in his decision to step down, including a toll on his physical and mental health.

Ryan focused most of his announcement on a lack of resources for his office and difficulty attracting and retaining qualified attorneys to work in the Seventh Judicial District. He specifically mentioned the pandemic and “political aftermath of current events” as reasons for resigning.

“Over the past four years, the District Attorney’s Office has had an average attorney turnover rate of 32% per year with a turnover rate of 56% in 2024,” he wrote. Ryan said he can’t keep up with court schedules and demands across the 10,000-square-mile district, which includes Montrose, Delta, Ouray, San Miguel, Gunnison and Hinsdale counties. He cited the challenges as “circumstances beyond my control.”

Ryan has worked for the office for 17 years, and ran for the position of district attorney after his predecessor, Dan Hotsenpiller, finished his last two terms in the position. Ryan was the chief deputy district attorney at the time, and he was unopposed in his election bid.

The resignation creates a vacancy for the position. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis will have the responsibility to make an appointment to fill Ryan’s job.

The Plaindealer left a message with Ryan seeking comment.

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