Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis will run for county commissioner if current Commissioner Jimmy Dimora decides against running for re-election in 2010.

Commissioner Dimora and County Auditor Frank Russo are under federal investigation for allegedly offering jobs in exchange for favors, receiving personal work in exchange for public contracts, and trying to influence the outcome of judicial proceedings. Rokakis said he expects Dimora’s seat could become vacant prior to 2010 due to the federal investigation and that he'll definitely run for it if it opens.

“I’m really interested and always have been interested in being a county commissioner up here,” he said.

If Dimora stays on he would need to run for reelection in 2010.

Rokakis has been treasurer since 1997. Tuesday he will testify in front of the state Senate’s Local Government Committee to support a bill giving county treasurers and commissioners the authority to create land banks to revitalize vacant land.