SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Former eBay Inc Chief Executive Meg Whitman, one of the highest profile Republican technology executives in Silicon Valley, has formed a committee to explore running for governor of California in 2010, the first official step of a campaign.

"California faces challenges unlike anyother time in its history - a weak and faltering economy, massive job losses, and an exploding state budget deficit," Whitman, 52, said in a statement. "I refuse to stand by and watch it fail." (Reporting by Peter Henderson, Editing Patricia Zengerle)