Mike Dugan has been mentioned as a likely choice for US Attorney for Oregon, but it seems the Deschutes County District Attorney isn't too interested in the job.
Dugan told PolitickerOr.com that he's happy in his present job and isn't angling for an appointment from soon-to-be-President Barack Obama. He also said his personal choice for the job would be Joshua Marquis, the Clatsop County DA and a former chief deputy DA in Deschutes County.
"My personal preference is Joshua Marquis," Dugan told PolitickerOr.com. "Joshua knows a lot about the criminal law system and the federal system. He is a very loyal person and will do what the government of the United States asks him to do. He'll also do his best to make sure the desires of Mr. Obama become Oregon's."
Like Dugan, Marquis is a strong law-and-order guy. His profile on the National District Attorneys Association website says: "Marquis is well known throughout Oregon for his impassioned newspaper op-ed articles and speeches on controversial criminal justice issues, especially victims' rights and the death penalty (he's for it). On the national scene, he was a longtime commentator on Court TV. He has appeared on NBC's Dateline and has defended his pro-capital punishment stand on Good Morning America, the Geraldo Rivera Show, and National Public Radio."
US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president and are the top federal law enforcement officials in their states. The present US Attorney for Oregon is Karin J. Immergut, who's a George W. Bush appointee. Probably her biggest claim to fame is helping prepare the case against President Bill Clinton during the Fellatio Impeachment of 1998. It seems a pretty safe bet that it will not be the pleasure of President Obama to keep her in the job.
Asked if he'd even accept the appointment, Dugan wouldn't commit himself: "Somebody once said, 'I am not campaigning and will not campaign. If I am appointed I will serve with distinction.' If I am appointed? We'll cross that bridge when it comes."
