CLEVELAND, Ohio --

has never been on a ballot west of the Cuyahoga River. But there he was Tuesday on the West Side, the featured speaker at a gathering of activists.

For years Chris Ronayne has resisted the urge to leave a prominent development job for politics. Last week he juggled both, interrupting a Chicago business trip to fly back to Cleveland and work the crowd at a Democratic Party dinner.

And Jim Rokakis, who not long ago swore off elective office, is consulting supporters about a possible comeback.

The likelihood that Ed FitzGerald will not seek re-election as Cuyahoga County executive and instead challenge Gov. John Kasich has prompted early posturing for the office FitzGerald would leave behind. The list of prospects has more than a dozen names, including a few Republicans despite numbers that work against them in a largely Democratic county.

At this stage, Budish, Ronayne and Rokakis -- Democrats all -- form the top tier.

"I would say it's going to be one of those, unless someone out in left field jumps into this thing," said Stuart Garson, chairman of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party. "If you want to be a serious candidate, you'd better speak up soon."

The three frontrunners stressed that until FitzGerald officially declares a bid for governor, there’s no race to run. None would challenge him if he seeks a second term. But any chance of a re-election bid for FitzGerald was put to rest on Friday, when he emailed supporters to invite them to his “big announcement” about “Ohio’s future,” which he will make Wednesday in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, Budish, Ronayne and Rokakis all acknowledge interest in the executive’s job and are openly testing the waters for 2014.

"I would be very excited about the possibility of serving as county executive," Budish, the Ohio House minority leader from Beachwood, told The Plain Dealer last week. "I think it's a tremendously exciting opportunity if it happens."

Term limits prevent Budish, 59, from seeking re-election next year. The former House speaker said he has "had conversations with a number of folks in the community" about the county executive race. In an interview, Budish wedded himself to several of FitzGerald's initiatives, such as the county's $100 million economic development fund. Budish also noted his experience navigating Statehouse politics in an era where state leaders have cut funding to local governments.

Budish, an attorney, has a familiar presence locally through a Sunday talk show on which he tackles senior citizen issues, but his political base is concentrated around his East Side district. Even so, he downplayed his speech last week at a meeting of West Side Democratic clubs. The "Evening with Armond Budish" event was billed as an informational session on the state budget process.

Keary McCarthy, Budish's chief of staff in the House, was candid about the geographical politicking afoot.

"If there happens to be an added benefit to that in the future, that's a good thing," McCarthy said.

Money figures to be one edge Budish would have over other Democratic hopefuls. He cemented his term as speaker through prodigious fund raising, and his elevation to leadership only improved his standing with high-level donors.

"Certainly Armond you would have to give the advantage to, not taking anything away from the other two," Garson said. "But if this came down to an ability to fund raise, you would have to say Armond is the best of the three."

In politics, cash can deliver a sense of inevitability -- and vice versa. Contributors like to pick winners. And if Budish glides out to an early lead in money, he will be the early favorite for the Democratic nomination. Many of the party insiders who vote on the primary endorsement won't want to be left behind if the proverbial train is leaving the station.

So if you're Ronayne or Rokakis, you want to slow down the process.

"I've encouraged colleagues to hold back from early commitments until there's a bit of a dialogue about what people's plans and visions are," said Ronayne, of Cleveland. "This shouldn't be about money, and it shouldn't be about the race to the starting line -- not that I'm suggesting that's anyone's strategy. What matters is the race ahead for the community."

Ronayne, 44, is president of University Circle Inc., a nonprofit that coordinates development near Cleveland's cultural and medical hub. He ran unsuccessfully in 2010 for a part-time post on the County Council. Though in the past he has considered bids for mayor and county executive, Ronayne has been reluctant to leave the full-time University Circle job.

"County Executive FitzGerald has done an amazing job of righting the course of the county," said Ronayne, alluding to the new charter-style government FitzGerald inherited after an era marred by political corruption. "The reality is if he seeks the governorship, the county die has not yet been cast. The years 2015 through 2019 are critically important."

Ronayne's decision to fly home from Chicago to squeeze in last weekend's dinner with county Democrats is a sign he is weighing the race seriously this time. Budish also attended the dinner -- as a featured speaker. Rokakis missed the event. The former county treasurer was in Washington to meet with federal officials about demolition funding for Ohio.

Rokakis, 57, serves as a vice president with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and director of the Cleveland nonprofit's Thriving Communities Institute. The roles keep him visible on what long has been his signature issue: the rebuilding of neighborhoods blighted by foreclosures. He loves the work but has been open about his interest in the county executive position for months. Until recently, Rokakis was convinced FitzGerald would pass on a run for governor.

"That's not the way I view the race now," Rokakis, of Rocky River, said last week. "I think it's going happen."

Under the new charter, the treasurer is appointed, not elected as Rokakis was. And while Budish and Ronayne are hoping to brand themselves as FitzGerald's natural successor, it's no secret that Rokakis and FitzGerald have a chilly relationship. Rokakis had little interest in serving in the new administration. FitzGerald had little interest in keeping him.

As his tenure neared an end in 2010, Rokakis told The Plain Dealer he was leaving politics. The weight of a federal corruption probe that focused on two of his fellow county officeholders -- but not him or his staff -- had tired him.

"I was in the middle of a system that was imploding," Rokakis said last week. "When I left, I left brokenhearted, and my spirit was broken. But I still think public service is my calling. And I still think I can make a difference."

Several other Democrats have drawn buzz as potential candidates, most notably Warrensville Heights Mayor Brad Sellers and County Council President C. Ellen Connally. Sellers, a former NBA player, was noncommittal when asked last week if he had thought about running. Connally, a former judge, said she is "definitely considering my options."

There are fewer rumblings on the Republican side, where a competitive endorsement process and primary is less likely. Names such as State Sen. Tom Patton and Strongsville Mayor Tom Perciak top the GOP wish list as pragmatists who could have crossover appeal in a deep blue Democratic county. The Republican candidate who fit that bill in 2010, former State Rep. Matt Dolan, lost to FitzGerald by 15 percentage points and is not interested in running again next year.

Patton, of Strongsville, said in December that he would not seek the job. But last week he said he might reconsider.

"At this time I'm giving no thought to that race," Patton said. "If it's an open seat, I think everyone will rethink it."

Others in the GOP mix include County Councilmen Dave Greenspan and Jack Schron.

"Republicans," said Cuyahoga GOP Chairman Rob Frost, "will have a very strong, credible candidate in this race."