It appears former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson has the itch to get back into politics. Some local Republicans, he says, are pushing him to scratch that itch.

Among the tantalizing possibilities are a 19th Congressional District challenge of Rep. George Radanovich, who like Patterson is a Republican. It's no secret that some local Republicans have grown frustrated with Radanovich and want him replaced.

Another possibility is running for the 29th Assembly District, where Clovis Republican Mike Villines will be termed out next year.

"I have had encouragement to be back in public life, both in Congress and in the Assembly," Patterson says. "I have been recruited for both. Those are the wishes of other people. They are not mine necessarily."

Patterson says business commitments mean he can't consider anything until January. But the political veteran -- who served two terms as Fresno's mayor, then ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002, losing in a three-way primary election to Visalia Republican Devin Nunes -- leaves no doubt that he is interested.

There are 535 members of Congress in Washington, D.C. and 120 legislators in Sacramento who are making decisions that will affect his grandchildren, Patterson says.

"I still want to be a part of that," he says.