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Isiah Leggett, Thomas E. Perez, James T. Smith Jr.

These are just a few of the names being tossed around by pundits and bloggers alike, if Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown were to take a job with President-elect Barack Obama's administration.

Brown reportedly is being considered for a position as Obama's secretary of veterans affairs. Speculation has surfaced since the news broke last week, and some have discussed who could be in line for the state's No. 2 spot if Brown takes a job in Washington.

"Gov. Martin O'Malley will most likely name an African American from this part of the state, either from Prince George's or Montgomery counties," said G. Keith Haller, president of Potomac Inc. in Bethesda. "I would think that if the governor would run for re-election, he would want to make sure his ties to the state's two largest Democratic jurisdictions are solidified."

Several names from the region have surfaced. Maryland Politics Watch mentioned Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Dist. 26) of Fort Washington and Del. Dereck E. Davis (D-Dist. 25) of Upper Marlboro as possible successors.

A Baltimore Sun blog mentioned Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot and former Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan as would-be candidates, in addition to some of the other names above.

"What's the percentage? Less than zero?" Haller said of the possibility of Franchot or Duncan being considered for the seat. "Certainly, the comptroller has rubbed the governor pretty raw in terms of ongoing relationships."

Brown has repeatedly dodged questions about a cabinet position with Obama. He currently is co-chairman of an Obama transition group that is helping to steer the administration's policy goals for veterans.

Brown, 47, is a colonel in the Army Reserves and was deployed to Iraq in 2005 while a member of the House of Delegates. He attended Harvard Law School with Obama.

"He's got a pretty bright political future here," Michael J.G. Cain, chairman of the political science department at St. Mary's College of Maryland, said of Brown. "Admittedly, it might not occur for another six years or so."

But taking a job with Obama might not be the best political move for Brown, Cain said.

"Once you're out, you're out," he said. "It would be easier for him to be governor from the lieutenant governor's seat than to go to the administration and come back to run for governor."

And while landing Leggett "would be a great coup for the governor," Cain said, it might not be the best move for Leggett, who is county executive of the largest and wealthiest county in the state.

"The lieutenant governor is not really a separate office like it is in Virginia," Haller said. "You're really at the beck and call of the governor in Maryland."

Montgomery County, however, could face a historic budget shortfall approaching $500 million in fiscal 2010.

"The county executive has no interest in being lieutenant governor," Leggett spokesman Patrick K. Lacefield said. "He is interested in being the county executive of Montgomery County."

Perez, the state's secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, is overseeing the transition at the Justice Department, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs and the Federal Elections Commission for Obama.

Perez has said he has no plans to take a cabinet job.

On Tuesday, former state Sen. Mary H. Boergers informally pushed for Montgomery County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin to be considered if the lieutenant governor's seat opens up.

Ervin as the state's No. 2 would achieve geographical, gender and racial balance, Boergers wrote in an e-mail to Ervin's supporters.

"I seriously never thought about it," said Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring, who added that she knew nothing about Boergers' e-mail until someone forwarded it to her.

But would she consider a run at the lieutenant governor's seat if it came open?

"It's kind of hard to say," Ervin said. "It hasn't happened. No one has talked to me, so I don't know how to respond to that. I will continue to represent District 5 on the County Council. I love my job."

The political grapevine is all part of the game, said Cain, who likened the speculation to musical chairs.

"Everyone's name is being floated," he said. "It depends on what's going to be empty when the music stops. This is an interesting game we're playing."

Staff Writer Janel Davis

contributed to this report.