To be blunt, most normal folks haven't given a second thought to who might replace Terri Lynn Land for Secretary of State, but there are lots of abnormal folks in this town who have. In other words, the hunt for a replacement is full speed ahead.

In fact on the GOP side, there are four contenders in the race already, none of whom you've heard of. Want proof?

Cameron Brown, Ann Norlander, Joanne Emmons and Michele McManus are running. See, unless you're a relative, they are complete unknowns.

Now comes a possible fifth contender from Flint: Paul Scott.

Paul who?

C2 He's a freshman GOP lawmaker who is a quick study, has a strong image on the tube and some higher ups in the state party are urging him to get in.

=C 2 Scott would be the only minority in the field if he did, but he's not there yet.

He's thinking about it and has to be convinced that he has the "passion" to run statewide for the first time.

Scott admits he knows nothing about convention politics which is where the nominee will be hand picked by the GOP delegates a year from this month. The others are cultivating the grass roots but it's not too late to get in for Scott.

"I'm flattered by it," he smiles.

Secretly democrats in Genesee County would love to have him run statewide because they'd have a better chance of winning the normally democratic seat.

Scott says he will run for his old house seat first, but now this flirtation with another office so early in his infant political career may hand the democrats an issue to exploit.

The D's could say Scott is using hi s house seat as a stepping-stone to higher office, which sometimes leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those who sent him to Lansing to be their representative.

Could democrats do that?

Yep which is part of the reason Scott is weighting very carefully this possible Secretary of State bid.