"We're hearing that Vida Miller is gearing up her campaign and she's planning on coming straight for Kevin Ryan," S.C. Rep. Alan Clemmons of North Myrtle Beach told a crowd Saturday at the Georgetown County Republican Party Convention. "We need to work hard to bring Kevin back to Columbia, so he can continue to be the voice of leadership."
Ryan, 23, was elected to state House District 108 in November, unseating Miller after 14 years in office. He will run for re-election in 2012, he said, and has "heard the rumors" that Miller will try to reclaim the seat.
"Of course, I haven't called her to ask her," he said, but he has seen Miller in Columbia several times and thinks there might be some truth to the tales.
Miller said she has heard several rumors recently about her political ambitions, including one that she plans to switch parties and run as a Republican against S.C. Sen. Ray Cleary in District 34. She laughed at that notion, but not at the one that she would pursue election in District 108 again.
"I would never rule anything out," Miller said. "But I'm having a good time enjoying my family and friends right now. Running a campaign is the last thing on my mind. I've just got too many irons in the fire right now to jump into campaign mode."
Miller has made several trips to Columbia recently to attend various functions, she said, but that's not any indication of future campaign plans.
"I think [the GOP] need to be more concerned about what [Ryan] is doing than what I'm doing," Miller said.