French, of Anchorage, said he filed the letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. That allows him to legally start raising for a campaign. But French said he doesn't intend to raise any money until he makes a final decision and a formal announcement of whether he will run for governor.
He said he expects to make a final decision on running "sooner rather than later."
French became nationally known last year as the oversaw the state Legislature's so-called "Troopergate" investigation of Republican Gov. Sarah Palin.
Palin hasn't said if she will run for re-election next year. Democrats Bob Poe and Rob Rosenfeld have filed to run and several others have said they are considering it.
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