Rachel Burgin is very much being whispered as a potential candidate for the District 10 seat Ronda Storms is vacating, along with former Senate President Tom Lee.

No direct word from Burgin, yet, but there's this: Joe Wicker, a Republican from Riverview who previously had been running for the new District 57 seat, has confirmed he will run for Burgin's seat instead and is in the process of mailing his paperwork.

"I am running for Rachel's seat," said Wicker, an Iraq war veteran and business manager for a division of International Paper Co.

He said he could not speak to whether that means Burgin is vacating it for a Senate run.

Meanwhile, east county Republican activist and campaign donor Sam Rashid said he has spoken to Burgin and tried to talk her out of running. He says he will be supporting Lee.