CROWN POINT | Recent political turbulence appears to be altering the flight path of one or more local politicians with aspirations for state office.

A year ago, Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez launched a series of exploratory tours around Indiana following encouragement by friends to run for governor in 2012. It has been an option he said he was considering seriously because he leaves office as the county's top law enforcement officer in nine months.

The sheriff's campaign finance report shows he doled out more than $13,000 last year to downstate Democratic Party organizations. He traveled to Lawrenceburg, Seymour, Clarksville, Columbia City, Elkhart and Indianapolis to talk about statewide issues.

"I have been well received," Dominguez said in July.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. also was being courted by those who thought he was gubernatorial material. "It's flattering," he said at the time. He threw a party at a French Lick resort last summer for downstate Democrats who might be choosing sides for the 2012 governor's race.

Then U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., announced in mid-February he would not seek re-election.

That bombshell prompted McDermott to publicly campaign for Bayh's Senate seat for two weeks before throwing in the towel and helping clear the race for U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, an Evansville Democrat.

Although Bayh has suggested he may go into business, education or charity, political observers speculate he might run for governor in 2012 and be the pre-emptive favorite thanks to his popularity among Indiana voters, many of whom fondly remember his years as governor from 1989 to 1996.

"I'm just running for re-election as mayor," McDermott said recently.

Dominguez said, "I have never been an officially announced candidate for governor. If Evan Bayh were to run for governor I would never run against Evan Bayh, and I would be honored to serve as his lieutenant governor -- if Evan Bayh were to run."

Lieutenant governor may not be as lofty a goal, but Dominguez, who can't seek re-election as sheriff becuase of term limits, said he is being loyal to the man who helped vault him into politics. As governor, Bayh appointed Dominguez chairman of the state Workers Compensation Board.

"Obviously, I think a lot of Evan Bayh," Dominguez said. "He has been a dear friend and a mentor. If it's true that Evan Bayh is running, then Roy Dominguez would love the opportunity and be honored to be his lieutenant governor."