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Assemblywoman Jean Fuller said Friday she's leaning toward running for the state Senate and not for re-election to her current post.

If she indeed goes that way, other candidates' plans should firm up, too.

Bakersfield psychologist Dean Haddock, Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler and Taft College instructor Harold Pease have said they will run in the 32nd Assembly District Republican primary if Fuller does not. Most of Bakersfield is in that district.

"Constituents have been coming forward to encourage me to run for State Senate in 2010 and because of that encouragement, I am leaning more towards running for the Senate than the Assembly," Fuller, R-Bakersfield, said in a statement.

Fuller would be vying for the 18th Senate District seat now held by the terming-out Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield.

Former Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, has also filed intent to run papers for the 18th District Republican primary.

Fuller has said she will make her final decision after a water deal is done in the Legislature. Assembly and Senate lawmakers approved a package earlier this week.

"Now that the water package has passed, I am focused on ensuring that officials and constituents understand the impact the water bond would have on their area," Fuller's statement also said.

"Because of my active involvement in the water deal, I was invited by the Governor to join him at a signing ceremony this morning in Los Angeles, and will also join the Governor on Monday in Fresno as he signs the water bond."

- Government editor Christine Bedell

UPDATE: Bakersfield’s Stan Ellis, who owns the Bakersfield Jam and about a dozen other businesses, announced Friday he’s endorsing Mettler in the 32nd.

Ellis unsuccessfully sought the same seat in 2006.

“Ken Mettler is a strong candidate who will fight for the things that I care about in a representative - less regulations, lower taxes and real accountability to the voters who put you there in the first place,” Ellis said in a news release.

“Ken will provide principled representation for our community. I intend to support Ken all the way in order to gain a real fighter for us up in Sacramento.”