State House Speaker Jim Amann plans to make it official Thursday and announce he is considering a run for governor.

Amann will announce his plans to form an exploratory committee at Milford Town Hall. The Milford Democrat says the window is wide open for him to prove he's ready for the next step.

Amann is in his second term as speaker and says he's been able to unite a very diverse Democratic caucus and pushed innovative ideas. He says being elected governor would fulfill a lifelong dream. According to the speaker, forming the committee will gauge the possibility.

While forming a committee doesn?t ensure Amann will run in 2010, he believes his 25 years of experience in politics, with a third of that time in a leadership role, would make him a qualified candidate for governor.

Amann says he expects the exploratory phase to last about 180 days. At the end of that time, he says he should have a good idea if the support is out there to make a serious run. Amann also expects to announce what he says are three major endorsements in coming weeks.

Gov. Jodi Rell has not announced whether she will seek re-election. Amann is the first Democrat to officially form a committee. He says now is the time to determine if he could be a serious contender.