Democratic state Sen. Stephen Sweeney, who has made no secret of his aspirations to higher political office, said Monday that he wants to become Senate president.

Sweeney, however, won't say whether he will seek the post this January when the Legislature reorganizes.

Sen. Richard Codey of Essex County currently has the job the most powerful position in the Legislature.

During a one-hour guest spot on New Jersey 101.5 FM, Sweeney said he would like to be Senate president "someday," saying it's the "natural progression" from his current position as Senate majority leader.

He was responding to a question from station news director Eric Scott.

Sweeney, of West Deptford, also said he had not discussed the matter with Codey and has held no discussions within the Senate Democratic caucus about the post.

When asked about the comments later Monday, Sweeney said he hasn't "done anything up to this point" to seek the Senate president's position.

"Someday, I'd like to run for governor [also] but, you know, I'm supporting a governor right now running," Sweeney said, adding, "Now's not the time to be focusing on all that stuff ... every Democratic senator's focus should be helping Gov. Corzine to get re-elected."

The state Senate is Democrat-controlled by a 23-17 margin. To become Senate president, a senator would need 12 of the 23 Democratic votes.

If Sweeney seeks the Senate presidency this year, it wouldn't be the first time he clashed with Codey. Under the same kind of voting process, Sweeney claimed the senate majority leader's post the second most powerful position in the senate in November of 2007. He had challenged Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, Codey's pick for the job.

In political circles, speculation has swirled about Sweeney's next move.

Sweeney maintained Monday that he's not interested in creating a distraction from the gubernatorial race, saying "This isn't the time to do those things."

Codey was elected co-president of the Senate in 2002, when the house was evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. He became Senate president in 2004. He also served as acting governor from November 2004 to January 2006, after the resignation of Gov. Jim McGreevey.

The Senate president and General Assembly speaker draw an annual salary of about $65,000, or one-third more than other New Jersey legislators.

New Jersey 101.5 FM, owned by Millennium Radio New Jersey, has advertised a week-long stint of appearances by lawmakers while morning host Jim Gearhart is on vacation.

Codey is expected to guest host today, as well as state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth.