AUSTIN, Texas -- George Prescott Bush is gearing up to run for a little-known but powerful office in a state where his family already is a political dynasty and where his Hispanic roots could help extend a stranglehold on power Republicans have enjoyed for two decades.
The 36-year-old Fort Worth attorney says he is close to settling on campaigning for Texas land commissioner next year. He doesn't expect to make up his mind until he knows what Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a fellow Republican, decides to do.
"We for sure are running, the question is the office," Bush told The Associated Press during the first interview about his political future since filing paperwork in November to seek elected office in Texas.
Bush's father is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, his grandfather is former President George H.W. Bush and his uncle is former President and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Perry has been governor since George W. left for the White House.
Land commissioner traditionally has been a steppingstone to higher office, but Bush said little about any plans to eventually become a national political force.
Instead, he spoke of how his past experience as an asset manager would help him manage the Permanent Schools Fund, which pays for public education and is managed by the land commissioner. He also said his perspective as an Afghanistan war veteran will help him use the post to become a leader in veterans' affairs.
Bush said he would announce his final decision after the Texas Legislature adjourns in May but added that his choice will depend "where the governor's thinking is." Perry, who flamed out as a presidential candidate but remains popular in Texas, says he'll reveal this summer if he will seek another term.
Some have speculated that Bush could challenge Perry for governor ' and even if he doesn't, what Perry decides will trigger political dominos falling.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson plans to run for lieutenant governor next year, creating a vacancy in his office. But Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican, may himself run for governor in 2014, meaning his post could be open too.
Bush suggested he'd be willing to wait his turn politically rather than immediately seeking top positions coveted by others in the state GOP.
"We've said that we want to be team players in the party, providing a younger, fresher vision for our values," he said in the interview Friday.
Bush speaks Spanish, and his mother Columba is from Mexico. Conservatives view George P. Bush on the ballot as a way to solidify support among Hispanics.
A Democrat has not won statewide office in Texas since 1994, but Hispanics tend to vote overwhelmingly Democratic and accounted for two-thirds of Texas' population growth over the last decade. Bush noted: "We'll be majority Hispanic in six years."
"I don't necessarily agree with the idea that having a candidate of Hispanic origin, or someone who can speak Spanish, can automatically obtain these votes," Bush said of Hispanics. "Having said that, it's important tactically to have candidates that understand issues of the community."
Bush's mother has said that one of the reasons she and Jeb Bush left Texas for Florida in the 1970s was because she felt like she had experienced racism here. But George P. Bush said, "the way I view it, rather than an issue of discomfort, is economic opportunity."
"This has been, at least for our generation, the best place to be economically," he said of Texas and its record of strong job creation.
He said he didn't think there was more intolerance toward Hispanics in Texas.
"Obviously, I think that issue exists wherever you go," he said. "I don't think it's just unique here."
Bush said of trying to stand out among his famous political family, "It's always been the thing of my grandmother to say, `Go out and make a name for yourself' and that's something that I've followed."
"But who better to ask for advice on politics than two former presidents and a former governor?" he said. "They're not involved in the day-to-day operations. They're not involved in formulating my ideology. It's more of an informal advice."
Bush said his grandfather inspired him to join the military, and he was deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He said that before enlisting, he knew politics was in his blood but felt he was too inexperienced to run for office.
It wasn't until the last few months, however, that "I felt it was time for my generation to step forward in state politics," Bush said.
Bush now spends his time crisscrossing Texas and the country, raising money and meeting with supporters. He was in Austin on Monday and posed for pictures outside the state Capitol before disappearing into meetings with legislators.
Someone he didn't see, however, was Perry. The governor said Bush's seeking elected office is a good thing for Texas and the Republican Party, and that he would like to speak to him about it adding: "He knows my phone number."
But then, Bush has his uncle to turn to for Texas gubernatorial perspective.
"It's much like starting a business," Bush said, "and having people who have been there and done it and run statewide, it's definitely been helpful."
Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark., 4th District)
In this photo provided by the Arkansas Secretary of State's office, taken Feb. 24, 2012, Republican Congressional candidate Tom Cotton poses in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Arkansas Secretary of State, Victor Coats)
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz., 1st District)
Then-Congressional candidate Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona, waves as she enters a room full of supporters during an election night party at the Radisson Woodlands Flagstaff Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 in Flagstaff, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz., 5th District)
Newly-elected U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon speaks to the crowd during an election night party, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at a hotel in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz., 9th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif., 1st District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, second from left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., right, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif., 2nd District)
Rep.-elect Jared Huffman, D-Calif. is seen on stage during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif., 7th District)
Rep.-elect Ami Bera, D-Calif., speaks to reporters after he registered for orientation at a hotel as newly elected members of Congress arrived on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif. 8th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Paul Cook, R-Calif., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif., 15th District)
In this photo taken Sept. 7, 2012, California Rep. candidate Eric Swalwell speaks during an Alameda County Democratic Lawyers Club endorsement meeting at Everett & Jones Barbeque in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif., 21st District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif., 26th District)
Rep.-elect Julia Brownley, D-Calif. is seen on stage during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif., 29th District)
Rep.-elect Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., is interviewed following a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Gloria McLeod (D-Calif., 35th District)
Rep.-elect Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-Calif. is seen on stage during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif., 36th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., second right, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif., 41st District)
Rep.-elect Mark Takano, D-Calif., is interviewed following a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif., 47th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif., 51st District)
Then-State Sen. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, right, and his daughter Helena, 7, stand for the Pledge of Alleglance before a swearing in ceremony for Senate members at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif., 52nd District)
This 2012 photograph provided by the candidate's campaign shows Democrat Scott Peters. (AP Photo)
Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn., 5th District)
Rep.-elect Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn. is seen on stage during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla., 3rd District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., third from left, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla., 6th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla., 9th District)
Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., stands with his family for a ceremonial photo with Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, left, in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol after the new 113th Congress convened on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. The official oath of office for all members of the House was administered earlier in the House chamber. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla., 18th District)
Rep.-elect Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., speak during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Trey Radel (R-Fla., 19th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, third from left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Trey Radel, R-Fla., third from right, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla., 22nd District)
Rep.-elect Lois Frankel, D-Fla. is seen on stage during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Fla., 26th District)
Rep.-elect Joe Garcia, D-Fla. is seen on stage during a news conference with newly elected Democratic House members, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga., 9th District)
State Rep. Doug Collins speaks at a victory party after winning the GOP runoff in the 9th Congressional District race Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, in Gainesville, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii, 2nd District)
In this Nov. 6, 2012 file photo, Democrat Colleen Hanabusa, right, congratulates candidate Tulsi Gabbard after both women won their Hawaii Congressional district seats at the Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill., 8th District)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 15: Newly elected Congressional freshmen Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) arrives to pose for a class picture with other new members of the 113th Congress on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on November 15, 2012 in Washington DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill., 10th District)
This undated file photo provided by the Brad Schneider for Congress campaign shows Brad Schneider, the Democratic candidate in Illinois' 10th Congressional District. (AP Photo/ Brad Schneider for Congress campaign)
Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill., 11th District)
This undated file photo provided by the Foster campaign shows U.S. Rep Bill Foster. (AP Photo/Courtesy the Bill Foster campaign, File)
Rep. William Enyart (D-Ill., 12th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. William Enyart, D-Ill., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill., 13th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill., 17th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., surrounded by her family, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind., 2nd District)
Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., third from right, participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for the 113th Congress on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Washington. The real swearing-in occurs on the House floor. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-Ind., 5th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, second from left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Ind., third from right, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Rep. Luke Messer (R-Ind., 6th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky., 4th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., right, with his wife Rhonda Massie, center, on Capitol Hill Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Rep. Garland "Andy" Barr (R-Ky., 6th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass., 4th District)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 03: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) (3rd L) swears in U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA) (2nd R) as his fiance Lauren Ann Birchfield (3rd R) holds a bible during a re-enactment ceremony after the first session of the 113th Congress convened, on January 3, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Rep. John Delaney (D-Md., 6th District)
In this Nov. 6, 2012, file photo, John Delaney speaks at an election night victory party in Potomac, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Rep. Daniel Kildee (D-Mich., 5th District)
Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., stands with his family for a ceremonial photo with Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, left, in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol after the new 113th Congress convened on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-Mich., 11th District)
Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R-Mich., stands with his family for a ceremonial photo with Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, left, in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol after the new 113th Congress convened on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn., 8th District)
Rep.-elect Rick Nolan, D-Minn., arrives to register for orientation at a hotel as newly elected members of Congress arrived on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo., 2nd District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, second from left, performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., and her family, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Steve Daines (R-Mont., 1st District)
Rep. Steve Daines, R-Mont., stands with his family for a ceremonial photo with Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, left, in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol after the new 113th Congress convened on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C., 8th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., and his wife Renee, center, Michael Turner, R-Ohio, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-N.C., 9th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington, as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C., 11th District)
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., right, participates in a mock swearing-in ceremony with Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for the 113th Congress on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Rep. George Holding (R-N.C., 13th District)
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio performs a mock swearing in for Rep. George Holding R-N.C., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington as the 113th Congress began. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D., 1st District)
Then-North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer speaks during an Associated Press interview in his office on the 12th floor of the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Dale Wetzel)
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