Three new names have emerged as potential candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010.

State Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone told the Quad City Times he could make a decision about whether or not to run this week. Behn was first elected to the Senate in 1997. He was an outspoken critic of a bill legalizing embryonic stem cell research and was one of 25 legislators who sought to join the legal battle over whether a ban on gay marriage was constitutional, a ban that was eventually overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court.

Behn was also one of five legislators who in 2008 circulated a book among their fellow lawmakers questioning the reality of global warming.

Bettendorf businessman Mike Whalen also said he is considering a run for governor, saying his decision will depend on who else gets into the race. Whalen’s company, Heart of America Inc., owns and operates hotels and restaurants in seven states, including the Machine Shed in Urbandale and the Holiday Inn near West Des Moines’ Jordan Creek Town Center. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2006 against Democrat Bruce Braley. One of his opponents in the 2006 GOP primary filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission saying Whalen’s campaign improperly coordinated with his restaurant chainto produce campaign ads. The FEC declined to act on the complaint.

Craig Robinson reported on his blog that Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley is also considering a run, although McKinley is not quoted in the story. He has served one term as leader of the minority caucus and was first elected to the Senate in 2001. However, Robinson points out that a failure to introduce a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the Senate has caused several influential social conservative groups to publically attack McKinley.

So far, only Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats and former House Speaker Christopher Rants have ermerged as likely candidates for the Republican nomination.