This could set off a real feeding frenzy, should County Judge Robert Eckels resign from his position leading the Commissioners Court. For those not from Texas, that is not a judicial body, but the governing body for the state's largest county.

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said Wednesday he is mulling offers from the private sector and can't rule out walking away from the four-year term he just won in November.

An early resignation would create a political whirlwind in county government, where officials serve without term limits and open seats are rare.

"In the last 90 days I've had conversations with a New York firm and international investment banking firms," Eckels said, saying he often has been approached by lobbying and law firms interested in hiring him.

"I have had more serious discussions than in the past. They are more concrete."

He is contemplating those offers, he said, but it is premature to talk about who he is "visiting with."

"I don't have to decide today. But I don't rule out anything," said Eckels, who was in Los Angeles on business. "I wouldn't do anything until I knew the county was in good shape and I had a chance to visit with my colleagues. I'm not looking for something else to do."

Either way, Eckels said he will make a decision sooner rather than later. He has been county judge since 1995.

The article notes that Eckels has engaged in a number of conversations on the issue with Tax Collector/Assessor Paul Bettencourt. No doubt one of the major goals is getting Bettencourt into Eckels' job in the event he does decide to leave. That is a rather complicated task, given that without Eckels the Commissioners Court is divided 2-2 between the two major parties.

But wait -- the Chronicle has this little tidbit later in the article.

If Eckels stepped down, it could create a political standoff, since the commissioners, who would be charged with appointing someone to serve until the next general election, are split 2-2 along party lines.

"The constitution doesn't allow offices to be vacant. Eckels will still serve until his successor is appointed and qualified," County Attorney Mike Stafford said. That also means that Eckels, a Republican, potentially could break a partisan tie in appointing his successor.

Possible successors mentioned in political circles include Bettencourt, District Clerk Charles Bacarisse, Commissioner Jerry Eversole and businessman Ned Holmes, all Republicans.

That could be interesting -- permitting Eckels to essentially choose his successor before departing the position as County Judge.

Now I know all the potential successors from my activities as GOP precinct chair here in my part of the county. As a personal choice, I'd prefer Bettencourt or Bacarisse just in order to avoid another opening on the Commissioners Court and to have the senior position in the county filled by a candidate who has stood before all the voters of the county and won election to office. Both men are well-respected, though Bettencourt definitely has a higher profile and would be less vulnerable to a challenge in either the primary or general election (not that I think that Bacarisse would be a weak candidate). On the other hand, Bettencourt has been touted as a likely candidate for the CD22 seat in 2008 -- his selection as County Judge would undoubtedly remove him from consideration for that office.

I'll be keeping my ear tot he ground on this one, and probably be writing more on the matter in the very near future.