A GOP source with knowledge of Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno’s thinking told InsiderNJ that veteran Senator Diane Allen (R-7) is “definitely on [the] short list” for Guadagno’s running mate.

A former TV newscaster with strong name ID in South Jersey, Allen decided to retire from the legislature at the end of her term this year. She will have served 20 years in the state senate at the end of her current term.

Part of the Allen draw includes the fact that she would not have to give up her seat in order to run for LG. InsiderNJ asked the senator in 2009 if she was interested in the position of LG when Chris Christie assessed his possible running mates. She said then that she would definitely have to consider it.

Guadagno ended up getting the job.

A moderate Republican who for years easily won reelection in a Democratic-leaning district, Allen serves as a member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens and the Senate Education committees. In 2008, she was appointed to the Joint Committee on the Public Schools.

Other names in the LG mix for Guadagno include Evesham Mayor Randy Brown and engineer Hirsh Singh, who came in third in the Republican gubernatorial primary last Tuesday.