In the wake of Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey's decision to leave office next year, state Sen.Bill Ketron is eyeing a run for the Senate speaker post.

"I will probably heavily consider it," Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, said last week, just minutes after Ramsey roiled the waters of the General Assembly by announcing he would not seek another four-year term this year.

Ketron, the Republican Caucus chairman who first won election in 2002, predicted Sen. Jack Johnson of Franklin, Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson and Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville, the Senate Majority leader, would like to serve as lieutenant governor. Sen. Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, is being mentioned as a candidate as well.

Norris said recently he would consider a run for governor in a couple of years, if he wins re-election to the Senate. Shortly after Ramsey's announcement, Norris said it is premature to say whether he would seek the speaker's post.

Read the entire story in the Murfreesboro Post.