Another Franklin County Commish to Run Against Pryce?

The Dispatch has the scoop today (Ht to a reader for sending me stuff I missed):

Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks has formed a committee to explore a run for Congress in 2008.

The Upper Arlington Democrat, serving her first term in countywide office, said she hasn’t made a decision, however, on whether to seek another term as commissioner or to challenge U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce next year.

She also said she hasn’t discussed her plans with fellow Democrat and Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, who came within 1,062 votes of toppling Pryce in November.

She sounds 100% serious to me too; hell she's got Democratic-posterboy lawyer Don McTigue running her 527 "Paula Brooks Federal Committee". For those out of the loop, Don's a very influential, very well respect Player (with a capital "P") in Democratic circles.

The gal's got humor too:

"This is not a filing to run against anybody," Brooks said. "I am considering running for re-election in 2008. I might be considering running for Congress. I might be considering running for something in 10 years. I might be considering helping a presidential candidate or two or three or four."

For more, check out Brooks' bio.

Pryce is feeling the heat after her close call in November; '08 should be a deadly year for her. From the WashPost:

Last year, Rep. Deborah Pryce (Ohio) was a powerful member of the Republican leadership, responsible for uniting her fractious colleagues behind a single message. After narrowly escaping defeat in November, the swing-district Republican bolted from her party's leadership last year. Last week, she virtually bolted from the party.

With just one exception, Pryce sided with the new Democratic majority on every major bill and rule change that came to a vote in the past two weeks, even voting against her party on a procedural vote, a move considered heretical in the years of GOP control.

Don't worry Deb, retirement's in sight.