State Sen. Russell Fulcher has taken the first step toward running for governor, but that doesn’t mean he’s definitely in the race.

Fulcher, Meridian, tells the Spokane Spokesman-Review’s Betsy Russell that he will take “several weeks” before deciding whether to challenge incumbent Gov. Butch Otter in the May GOP primary. Fulcher tells the Idaho Statesman’s Dan Popkey that he will go statewide in the next couple of weeks to seek “wise counsel” about a possible run.

But before Fulcher goes out to listen to advice, here’s what Fulcher is saying on his Facebook page. (It’s a statement that mirrors the one he sent to the Statesman Saturday.)

By now, you may have heard some chatter from folks who have asked me to challenge Governor Otter in the Republican primary next year. To date, I’ve simply been honored to represent my district in the Idaho State Senate and not aimed to use that position to posture for a higher office.

By the next election, Governor Otter will have already served two terms in office, and I am concerned that he has lost touch with the will of the people of Idaho. His regrettable decision to voluntarily thrust Idaho into Obamacare exemplifies this.

Today, I am submitting the appropriate paperwork to begin the exploratory process. I will treat this process with the utmost seriousness and humility it requires. From listening to citizens from across the state to meeting with key community activists, I plan to take this time to seek wise counsel and determine if I am the right person to help Idaho grow while preserving its rich heritage and traditions. I am confident that should I run, I would be well-positioned to win, especially with the help of qualified staff and the assistance of the grassroots community.

I look forward to talking with you more as the process progresses.

Among the “likes” on Fulcher’s Facebook post: former State Board of Education member Karen McGee and former Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman. In 2010, Ullman tried unsuccessfully to oust Otter in the GOP primary.

The paperwork Fulcher mentions in his statement is the appointment of a campaign treasurer — a precursor to raising money for a run. Fulcher filed this statement Saturday with the secretary of state’s office.