Shepherd 'interested in talking' about U.S. attorney position

Denver attorney Willie Shepherd has heard rumors that he's being considered for U.S. attorney from Colorado and said that he'd like to discuss possibly taking the position.

"I've had no official conversations with anyone about it, but it's certainly an honor to be thought of in that very high regard," Shepherd told PolitickerCO.com on Tuesday afternoon. "I'd have to, obviously, have a conversation with my family and a lot of people, but I'd certainly be interested in talking about it."

Shepherd, a co-founder of the Denver-based law firm Kamlet Shepherd & Reichert, is a major Democratic Party contributor who served as finance chair for the 2008 Democratic National Convention host committee.

The incoming Obama administration will likely replace the current U.S. attorney for Colorado, Troy Eid, on U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar's (D-Denver) recommendation.

Eid, appointed by President Bush in 2006, was former Gov. Bill Owens' (R) chief legal counsel.

A Salazar spokesman said last week that it's too early for the senator to be considering candidates for U.S. attorney.

University of Colorado Regent and Denver attorney Michael Carrigan said earlier on Tuesday that he's "seriously considering" seeking the U.S. attorney position.

Other names mentioned for the job include Adams County District Attorney Don Quick, Gov. Bill Ritter's deputy chief of staff Stephanie Villafuerte, and 2004 Denver district attorney candidate John Walsh.