After his name was floated last week as a potential candidate to replace the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R), Old Dominion Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) said in a statement Friday that he is not considering entering the upcoming special election that will determine who will finish out the Congresswoman’s term.

Davis died Oct. 6 after a two-year battle with breast cancer, and Bolling was touted by some Republican insiders as a possible frontrunner in what is expected to be a crowded GOP field.

Bolling, who is less than halfway through his lieutenant governor term and is rumored to be eyeing the Commonwealth’s gubernatorial seat in 2009, said he received “a great deal of encouragement” to run for the Davis seat from business and political leaders in both Virginia and in Washington, D.C.

But Bolling said he is currently focused on the looming Virginia legislative elections in November where, he said, he is “doing everything I can to make certain that we retain our Republican majorities in the state Senate. Given the importance of the position I currently hold at this critical time in Virginia history, it would not be appropriate for me to consider running for any other political office.”

If control of the state Senate deadlocks after the next election, which is a distinct possibility, Bolling, as lieutenant governor, would be called upon to break ties. The lieutenant governor job would remain vacant until the next election if Bolling left to enter Congress.

Bolling praised Davis’ work on Capitol Hill and offered his thoughts and prayers to the late Congresswoman’s family, including her husband Chuck Davis (R), whose name also has been mentioned as a possible heir to Jo Ann Davis’ seat.

— John McArdle