There was speculation that Republican AZ Senator Jim Waring would consider a run for state treasurer, and this week he made it official.
Yesterday, term-limited Waring planned to set up an exploratory committee to begin raising money to become Arizona's top banker, and will close up shop on a committee he started to take a look at a possible run for a seat in the House.
As for the state's current chief accountant, Treasurer Dean Martin, there is wide speculation that he will run for governor and leave the seat for Waring, but Martin will have to endure what is gearing up to be a tough Republican primary.
Waring tells the Arizona Guardian that he would not challenge Martin in a primary for treasurer if he didn't take the plunge into the governor's race.
Martin would have to square off with Governor Jan Brewer to get the Republican nomination for governor, as well as a slew of other potential Republican candidates, including rookie politician and Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker.
No Republican candidate, according to recent polls, stands a chance against the probable Democratic candidate for governor, Attorney General Terry Goddard.
In fact, the only possible Republican in Arizona that could beat Goddard is Sheriff Joe.
Joe hasn't expressed much interest in the job, saying he likes being sheriff, but a run by the geriatric pol is a possibility -- a terrifying possibility.
