HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Mike Turzai, who has represented the North Hills in the state House since 2001, yesterday said he will run for lieutenant governor.

"I plan to make an official announcement shortly," said Mr. Turzai, 46, a Republican lawyer from Bradford Woods.

Letters are to go out to the 370 Republican State Committee members next week about Mr. Turzai's candidacy. The committee will meet in early February to endorse candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.

"Pennsylvania has been headed in the wrong direction under [Democratic] Gov. Ed Rendell," Mr. Turzai said. "We need to focus on making Pennsylvania more competitive for employers and businesses, so that we have more family-sustaining jobs."

Mr. Turzai, who voted against the July 7 pay raise which was recently repealed, also has been critical about some of the closed-door practices of the Legislature.

"We need to change the way business has been done in Harrisburg," he said.

Mr. Turzai has been a leader of the Keystone Manufacturing Initiative, a package of legislation aimed at reducing taxes on businesses and reforming the legal system to reduce "frivolous" lawsuits against companies and doctors.

Another southwestern Pennsylvania Republican, state Sen. John Pippy of Moon, also may run for lieutenant governor. He hasn't decided yet.

Besides Mr. Turzai, there is, so far, one more definite GOP candidate for lieutenant governor -- Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Matthews, who will formally announce next week. His intentions were disclosed in Philadelphia newspapers last week.

Working for Mr. Matthews -- who is the brother of "Hardball" cable TV commentator Chris Matthews -- will be Josh Wilson, who is leaving his post as spokesman for the state Republican Committee.

Other potential GOP lieutenant governor candidates are Chester County Commissioner Carol Aichele and former Lancaster County Treasurer Greg Sahd.

Whoever wins the GOP lieutenant governor primary in May would run with the winner of the gubernatorial primary.

As of now, four Republicans are running for governor in 2006: former Lt. Gov. William Scranton, former Steelers receiver Lynn Swann, state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola of Harrisburg, and Jim Panyard of Lebanon, former head of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.

Mr. Turzai declined to state a preference for governor, but geography -- an important consideration -- would dictate he's a much better fit for Mr. Scranton, who is from northeast Pennsylvania, than for Mr. Swann, who is from the Pittsburgh area.

Democrats also will have a contest for lieutenant governor, as Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds Valerie McDonald Roberts is challenging incumbent Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.