Yukon Party cabinet minister Patrick Rouble stunned the party brass today with his announcement he will not run in the next election.

He dropped the bombshell just before noon today, speaking to a CBC radio reporter.

"It's news to me, too,” Mike Nixon, the former party president and candidate for the Porter Creek South nomination said shortly after the news broke.

New party president Jonas Smith also expressed surprise at Rouble's decision not to run again.

Over the past year, party insiders have indicated Rouble wanted to run for the party leadership once Dennis Fentie stepped aside, but his name never came up during last month's leadership campaign.

He is currently the Minister of Education and Energy Mines and Resources.

Rouble did not return any calls from the Star during the leadership race, nor did he publicly support any of the candidates.

The Star was unable to reach him for comment before press time this afternoon.