Alabama Treasurer Kay Ivey, a Republican, on Thursday became the latest candidate to join the fast-growing field for the state’s open-seat race for governor in 2010. She is the second Republican this week, and the third in two weeks, to state publicly that they are running to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Bob Riley.

Ivey’s decision to run was first reported by the al.com Web site and was confirmed to CQ Politics by her office.

Ivey, a former banker and a 1967 graduate of Alabama’s Auburn University, was elected state treasurer in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. She has focused her efforts in office on revamping Alabama’s unclaimed property program and two of the state’s college savings plans.