DuPage County’s top prosecutor is considering a run for the state’s highest office in 2010.

A campaign for governor would be State’s Attorney Joe Birkett’s third try for statewide office. He is also weighing a second run for attorney general.

Birkett, a 53-year-old Republican from Wheaton, ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2006 as Judy Baar Topinka’s running mate. In 2002, he lost the race for attorney general to Democrat Lisa Madigan.

Although he’s a few months away from making an official announcement, Birkett said being elected to statewide office is a longtime goal.

“I’ve always been interested in running an organization that is responsible for bettering the quality of life in our state,” he said. “That’s what I do now, but I’d like to do it on a broader scale.”

Birkett said he has received a lot of encouragement from across the state to run in 2010.

While navigating his office through yearly budget cuts over the last several years, Birkett said he has displayed the leadership necessary to run the state.

“That’s the kind of leadership the people of Illinois need,” he said.

The legislative and budgetary deadlocks and allegations of scandal that have plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration have made voters ready for a change, Birkett said.

“The Democrats won’t even sit down together,” he said. “It’s dysfunctional.”

State Sen. Dan Cronin, R-21st District, of Elmhurst is chairman of the DuPage County GOP. He said he believes Birkett is a strong candidate given his record as state’s attorney and his experience on the statewide campaign trail.

“He’s a proven vote-getter,” Cronin said. “He’s got a strong record as a tough law-enforcement official.”

Birkett’s record as a prosecutor gives him appeal to independents and some Democrats, Cronin said.

“The low crime rate in DuPage County is something to be proud of,” he said, “and I think Joe can justifiably claim a good piece of the credit for that.”

Birkett has been DuPage County state’s attorney since 1996. He is running unopposed in November for his fourth four-year term.