Former state Assemblyman and one-time Contra Costa supervisor Joe Canciamilla will spend the next six months exploring a possible statewide run for attorney general in 2010.

Canciamilla, a Pittsburg man who dropped out of a potentially contentious state Senate Democratic primary in June, has formed an attorney general exploratory committee and will make use of the roughly $400,000 left in his aborted Senate campaign.

“It’s one of the few down-ticket races, other than governor, that actually has some authority,” said Canciamilla, reached via cell phone earlier today. “Most of the other statewide seats (controller, treasurer, insurance commissioner) have very little ability to do anything or they are used only as political stepping stones for other offices.”

Of course, Canciamilla’s prospects depend heavily on a decision by the state’s current one-term Attorney General Jerry Brown,who is widely believed to be considering a run for governor in 2010. Under term limits, Brown could alternatively seek a second, four-year term as attorney general.

“I’m not crazy,” Canciamilla said. “I won’t run against Jerry. But I can’t afford to wait until Jerry makes a decision. I have to be ready to move.”

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