Del. Todd Schuler is keeping his political options open.

The freshman Democrat confirmed that he is a potential candidate for Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder's seat in the 2010 election.

"The thought process is that I'm the only incumbent Democrat living in (Bartenfelder's) district so I have to consider it," said Schuler, 31, who lives in Overlea.

Schuler represents the 8th District, which includes Perry Hall, Parkville and Overlea. Bartenfelder represents the 6th Council District, which stretches from Middle River to Parkville.

The four-term councilman has already announced his intention to run for county executive in 2010 and raised nearly $250,000 in 2007 for his campaign.

Area Republicans say Schuler is considering the change because he is too liberal for the district and is vulnerable to a challenge in 2010.

Schuler acknowledged his interest in the council seat after being asked about a fundraising event he held at the Commodore Hall in Middle River last year. The hall rental appears on Schuler's most recent campaign finance report, filed last month.

"The hall rental is not the proof," Schuler, 31, said. "What is proof is the fact that I've told people I'm potentially interested in the seat."

The Commodore is miles outside Schuler's 8th Legislative District, but is solidly in Bartenfelder's current councilmanic district.

Schuler won his seat in 2006 after an unsuccessful first campaign in 2002.

"I don't want to give you the impression in any way that I am unhappy down here," Schuler said.

Area Republicans are already licking their chops over the possibility of retaking a seat their party had held for 16 years.

They say they believe Schuler, who won his seat by 194 votes, is too liberal for the district and is vulnerable to a Republican challenge in 2010.

"He's a little too left for the district," said Del. Joseph Boteler, a Republican who also represents the 8th District.

Boteler pointed to Schuler's co-sponsorship of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and repeal language in the state constitution that specifies that only marriages between a man and woman are legal in Maryland.

"You have to be realistic -- our district is not ready for that," Boteler said.

Del. Eric Bromwell, another 8th District Democrat, dismissed the comments as partisan rhetoric.

"That's what they said about me in the last election," Bromwell said.

Bromwell said Schuler has shown an interest in county issues and "would make a very good councilman and I support him, but he certainly doesn't need my permission to run."

At least one person already appears to be considering running for Schuler's seat.

Former Del. John Cluster, a Republican who represented the same district from 2003 to 2007, said he is considering running for the seat he ultimately lost to Schuler. Cluster finished last in a six-way race but just 299 votes behind Schuler, who finished third.

Cluster said he expects to make a decision on the race by May.

E-mail political editor Bryan P. Sears at political editor Bryan P. Sears@patuxent.com