CHARLESTON — Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin is considering a run for governor in 2012.

Tomblin (D-Logan), who was named the top legislator in the nation recently when he won the 2009 William M. Bulger Excellence

in State Legislative Leadership Award, said yesterday that he is "open" to a run for the governor's job when Joe Manchin's term ends in 2012.

"If the opportunity arises and the right people get behind me, I would really consider running for governor," Tomblin said as he sat in his office in the State Capitol in Charleston. "I’m open to it. I think we’ve made some major strides. Whether I stay in this office or look to another office, that is something to be decided in the near future.

“Wherever the people decide I can best serve is where I’ll serve.”

Tomblin known for his down-to-Earth demeanor, often goes by Earl Ray. It's that connection with his constituents that has earned Sen. Tomblin the award, a press release from the National Conference of State Legislatures, said.

"Tomblin was honored on July 21 at the 35th Annual National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Philadelphia as part of the meeting's opening general session.

"It's an honor to commend Senator Earl Ray Tomblin's service with the Excellence in Legislative Leadership Award," NCSL Executive Director William T. Pound said. "As president of the West Virginia Senate, he exemplifies the most important qualities of a leader, integrity, fairness and compassion. He has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to preserving and strengthening the Legislature."

The Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award is presented annually to a leader who has worked to preserve and build public trust in the institution of the state legislature and whose career embodies the highest principles of leadership, the press release said.

Tomblin, who is also the state’s first and only lieutenant governor, served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1974 to 1980 and then in the Senate from 1980 until today. He served as the Senate majority whip and finance chairman and later as president of the Senate since 1994. Tomblin is the longest-serving Senate president in West Virginia's history. In addition to being involved in various committees, he has also served on the executive committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures and was chairman of the executive committee.

Tomblin was notified about his win during the special legislative session. He said he was pleasantly surprised to be named the top legislator in the country.

“The award is named for a former senate president from Massachusetts, who served back in the 1970s, and, after his tenure as senate president, he went on to become the president of the University of Massachusetts, and he served with a great deal of integrity and distinction,” Tomblin said. “This came as a surprise to me because my staff put together a lot of the background and letters of support from Sen. Robert C. Byrd and (former Secretary of State) Betty Ireland and I didn’t see any of this until after I’d gotten the call saying I’d won.

“It’s truly moving to get this award from all your peers across the country and it brings some distinction to West Virginia. It’s a real honor. I’ve received hundreds of e-mails and cards and congratulatory letters. We were here during the special session and I had a call here from William Bulger and he said he wanted to congratulate me about winning the award. It’s a real honor to be chosen from all the presidents and speakers and senate majority leaders from all across the country. It gave me a little tingle.”