Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Robert’s decision not to seek the governor’s office in 2010 creates a ripple effect affecting even Warwick’s own mayor, Scott Avedisian.

Roberts announced late last week she would seek re-election as lieutenant governor instead of mounting a gubernatorial bid as had been speculated.

The reason, she said, was so she could focus on health care, which has more or less been her signature issue since taking office in 2006 and even prior to that as a State Senator.

“As Lieutenant Governor, I have visited every Rhode Island city and town,” Roberts said. “What I have heard time and again from small businesses, working families and seniors is the desperate need for high quality, affordable health care that is accessible to everyone…I am committed as Lieutenant Governor to making affordable health care a reality for all Rhode Islanders.”

Given Roberts’ popularity with progressive special interest groups and her obvious appeal to women voters, Roberts figured to have a chance to win a primary against Attorney General Patrick Lynch and General Treasurer Frank Caprio, the two likely Democratic contenders in the 2010 gubernatorial race. (Myrth York won three hotly contested primaries in Rhode Island in the ’90s and in 2002 thanks largely to her appeal to progressive groups and women voters.)

Roberts’ decision to seek re-election was not only surprising, it also upsets the apple cart for many Democrat lieutenant governor hopefuls, including State Senator John Tassoni (D-Smithfield), as well as Representatives Elizabeth Dennigan (D-East Providence, Pawtucket) and Edwin Pacheco (D-Burriville).

It also complicates matters for Avedisian, a Republican pondering a bid for higher office. Several months ago, Avedisian told a Providence Journal columnist that he thought the office of lieutenant governor could be effective if the person occupying it had a good relationship with the governor.

Given the fact that Avedisian’s staunch political ally, former Warwick Mayor and U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee, has all but announced he’s running for governor, many speculated Avedisian was leaning toward a bid for lieutenant governor.

Now that Roberts is seeking re-election, it poses a dilemma. Avedisian has said he and Roberts would never run against each other in the past.

During a brief telephone conversation late last week, Avedisian—who seems more comfortable with Democrats than his own party members—reiterated the fact that he and Roberts are good friends who have worked together on issues in the past, particularly health care.

Roberts, he said, phoned him to tell him about her decision prior to announcing it to the public and he promised to let her be the first to know of his decision once it’s made.

Avedisian remained mum, offering not even a hint as to his intentions for the 2010 election cycle.

“I haven’t ruled anything out yet,” said Avedisian.

A recent Providence Journal article stated that Avedisian is considering still running for lieutenant governor, running for “congress” (presumably Patrick Kennedy’s seat or James Langevin’s seat, though he and Langevin are also personal friends), seeking re-election to the mayor’s office or getting out of politics all together.

(Congressional rules stipulate that an individual be an inhabitant of a state, not a resident of a particular congressional district, to run for office.)