State Sen. Florence Shapiro is preparing to set up an exploratory committee to run for U.S. Senate in anticipation of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's resignation or retirement, the Austin-based Texas Weekly newsletter says.  Hutchison, a Republican, is widely expected to return to Texas to run for governor in the 2010 election.  If she does, there could be any number of candidates chomping at the bit to seek her seat. Shapiro would love to get the jump on the field, and setting up an exploratory committeee would allow her to begin raising money. 

Others who likely would be interested are Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Secretary of State Roger Williams.  Shapiro, also a Republican,  is a former mayor of Plano who has served in the State Senate since 1993.  Her signature issue is public education and she serves as chairman of the the Senate Education Committeee in Austin. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Perry has tried to dissuade Hutchison's gubernatorial run by saying he intends to run again.  Hutchison's name also is being mentioned as potential chancellor of the UT System to succeed Mark Yudof, who has been named head of the University of California System.

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