Maggie Hassan For Governor?

Former Exeter lawmaker Maggie Hassan is considering a run for governor.

Hassan, a state senator who once served as majority leader, said she will probably run if Gov. John Lynch doesn't seek reelection.

If Lynch does run for a fifth term in 2012, Hassan said she would not run.

Hassan served three terms in the Senate. She lost her reelection bid last year to Republican Russell Prescott.

Since then, Hassan has stayed active in the political scene. She was appointed by Lynch as the at-large member of the public on a Senate committee seeking ways to contain health care costs.

If she runs for governor, Hassan said she would focus on the economy and creating jobs.

Hassan said the Republican-led Legislature has pursued ill-advised proposals, including bills that would strip power from labor unions, cut cigarette taxes, and slash funding the University System of New Hampshire.

"This legislature has done a lot of things to hurt the middle class," Hassan said. "It's given up on the idea that reasonable people can work together to solve problems."

On the Republican side, former U.S. Senate candidate Ovide Lamontagne said he too is a gubernatorial bid.