State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones said she's forming an exploratory committee for a possible run in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial election.

Arnold-Jones, an Albuquerque Republican who has served in the Legislature since 2003, said she's been thinking about running for higher office for a while.

Government transparency is a key issue for Arnold-Jones.

During the session this year, she kicked off a revolution of sorts when she began webcasting legislative meetings without permission from legislative leaders. The move led to a several other web- and audiocasts, including from media outlets and, eventually, from the Senate floor. Some House meetings are webcast, but House floor proceedings are not.

Arnold-Jones also stood up to House Speaker Ben Luján after she believed her vote was not being accurately counted on the House voting board.

With a background in systems, Arnold-Jones also points to her knowledge of how some of the more obscure aspects of government work — or ought to.

"I have a unique ability to asses where government works and where it's not working," she said.

In the past, she has been critical of the state's online campaign finance system as well as the state's SHARE system.

Other Republicans running or thinking about running for governor include Greg Zanetti, a brigadier general in the New Mexico Army National Guard; former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson; and former state GOP party chairman Allen Weh.

Arnold-Jones is seen by some in the party as a moderate Republican.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White took aim at her after she was one of a handful of Republicans to vote this year to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico.

Arnold-Jones said she stands by her vote, and points to other legislative accomplishments, including work for better state data analysis and improved interoperability for emergency communication.

She also said she's proud of her efforts on the New Mexico 2012 Project, which aims to "raise New Mexico's math and science achievement to fifth in the nation by the year 2012," according to its Web site.

Arnold-Jones said she'd like to make a decision on her run by October.

On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish is running for the state's top post, and Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is thinking about it.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.