“I’ve made each of the senators’ offices aware of my interest,” Thiebaut, a Democrat, told the Chieftain, referring to Democratic U.S. Sens. Ken Salazar and Mark Udall.

Other possible nominees for Colorado U.S. attorney in Barack Obama’s presidential administration include University of Colorado Regent Michael Carrigan, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, current Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Pena and Stephanie Villafuerte, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Ritter.

Thiebaut, who lives in Pueblo, previously expressed interest in taking a “serious look” at running in a 3rd Congressional District special election if U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, had been appointed the U.S. secretary of agriculture, an appointment that did not materialize.

Thiebaut served in the Colorado House and Senate from 1993 to 2002 and was elected the DA in Pueblo two years later. He has been particularly aggressive battling Colorado Springs, 40 miles north of Pueblo, over massive sewage spills that have flowed down Fountain Creek through Pueblo.

In a recent case, Thiebaut’s office filed criminal libel charges against a 51-year-old man for allegedly doctoring online photos of someone, in effect sticking that person’s head on the body of someone or something else.

On Nov. 14, 2002, then-Colorado Rep. Scott McInnis, a Republican, delivered a tribute honoring the Democrat Thiebaut for his service — including noting that Thiebaut has 15 children.

Here is the tribute, which was entered into the Congressional Record:

Mr. MCINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a man that has selflessly devoted his time and energies towards the betterment of the state of Colorado. A member of the Colorado State Legislature, the hard work and dedication of William Thiebaut, Jr., known as Bill, is a testament to the Western pride and character of my state and its citizens. Bill is now leaving the Colorado State Legislature after serving since 1993, and I can think of no better way to celebrate Bill’s retirement than to honor his many achievements before this body of congress, and this nation.

Educated in Canon City and now living in Pueblo, Bill has not only experienced the best the state has to offer but also has been inspired to give back to the state and its people. He has served in both the House and the Senate as both an appointee and an elected official. During his time in the Colorado General Assembly he has served on countless committees and dedicated countless hours to improving the lives of Coloradoans. Most notably he has diligently served as the Senate Majority Leader and has selflessly given his time to the Legislative Councils Subcommittee on Sexual Harassment, the Criminal Justice Commission, the Governor’s Job Training Coordination Council, the Federal Budget Task Force, and the Task Force on Worker’s Compensation Premium Rate Increases. In addition he has worked on the issues of election reform, worker’s rights, and children’s rights.

When Bill is not working in the General Assembly he is serving in his other roles as loving husband and devoted father of an amazing fifteen children.

Mr. Speaker, its clear that Bill Thiebaut is a man of dedication and commitment to his state and its citizens. He has achieved many things in his distinguished tenure in the Colorado General Assembly, and I am honored to be able to bring his hard work and dedication to the attention of this body of congress. It is my privilege to be able to express to him, and to this country, my gratitude for all that he has done for our wonderful state, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

The Rocky Mountain News reports that Quick decided not to pursue the top federal attorney job in Colorado for several reasons, including an ongoing investigation into the August 2007 murder of his chief deputy, Sean May, and because several prosecutors from his office have recently taken judgeships.

Eric Holder, Obama’s selection for attorney general, has been very supportive of the types of programs that have inspired Quick, who previously worked for Department of Interior nominee Sen. Ken Salazar when Salazar was Colorado’s attorney general, including three years as Salazar’s chief deputy.

Quick was re-elected to a second term in November. However, in a mid-December interview with the Colorado Independent, Quick said, “It’s difficult, timing-wise, but that part is very intriguing to me — the possibility of taking such a position under the leadership of Eric Holder. At this point, I can say I’m taking a look at it.”

However, this week Quick told Salazar, “This is where I need to be right now” — remaining as the chief prosecutor of the 17th Judicial District in Adams and Broomfield counties, according to the Rocky.

Shepherd also reportedly removed himself from the running. Former state Rep. Bernie Buescher, who had expressed interest in the job, is also out, because he was appointed Colorado’s new secretary of state.

Other possible nominees include University of Colorado Regent Michael Carrigan, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, current Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime Pena and Stephanie Villafuerte, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Ritter.

The current U.S. attorney in Colorado is Republican Troy Eid. Eid followed John Suthers, who was elected attorney general of Colorado in 2006.

Don Quick, the Adams-Broomfield District Attorney, is on the short list to become the next U.S. Attorney for Colorado. (Photo/Adams Broomfield DA.org)

But ask Dorschner who will be his new boss, and he comes up empty-handed.

“I would be hard-pressed to answer that,” says Dorschner.

Similarly, the spokesman for Sen. Ken Salazar who, as Colorado’s senior U.S. senator, would be charged with submitting recommendations of who should be Colorado’s next U.S. attorney to president-elect Barack Obama, is mum on the possibilities.

“It’s still too early in the process,” says Matt Lee-Ashley, Salazar’s spokesman. “We’re not there yet.”

Indeed, Salazar’s expected appointment to become secretary of the interior may take him out of the process entirely.

The likelihood that Colorado’s current U.S. attorney, Troy Eid, appointed by George W. Bush in 2006, will continue in that role is slim. But the lengthy nomination process to name a replacement, which could take months, hasn’t deterred the rumor mill from spinning grist.

Though top profile cases like the Nacchio, Barton and Roman Catholic nun cases often make the headlines, the cases that come before the U.S. attorney in Colorado usually are those involving natural resources, federal military and correctional facilities, crimes on Indian reservations, federal child porn cases, and terrorism. Before Eid was appointed, John Suthers served as U.S. attorney until he became Colorado’s attorney general; before that Democrat Tom Strickland served.

Top among the likely contenders to emerge to replace Eid, according to several knowledgeable sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, is Don Quick, the 17th Judicial District district attorney who previously worked for Salazar when he was Colorado’s attorney general — including three years as Salazar’s chief deputy overseeing 330 attorneys, investigators and staff. In all, Quick has more than 20 years of civil and criminal prosecution experience and has been appointed to numerous boards, commissions and task forces, including serving as president of the Colorado District Attorney’s Council from 2006-07.

On Monday afternoon, Quick confirmed he’s “taking a look at it.” The timing isn’t ideal, Quick told the Colorado Independent, pointing out that he was re-elected just last month to second term as district attorney for the 17th Judicial District, which includes Broomfield and Adams counties.

Yet at the same time, Eric Holder, Obama’s selection for attorney general, has been very supportive of the types of programs that have inspired Quick, including youth initiatives to keep kids in school that are similar to one that Quick has installed in Adams County.

“It’s difficult, timing-wise, but that part is very intriguing to me — the possibility of taking such a position under the leadership of Eric Holder. At this point, I can say I’m taking a look at it,” Quick said.

Several other names have been mentioned as possible candidates for Colorado U.S. attorney or have expressed interest publicly in the position. They include:

• Willie Shepherd — The chairman and co-founder of Denver-based Kamlet Shepherd Attorneys at Law is active in Democratic Party politics, as well as Denver’s business, civic, and philanthropic communities. He has served on a number of commissions and task forces and serves on the boards of directors of the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Concern and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. According to his law firm’s Web site, Shepherd specializes in environmental, regulatory and administrative law as well as land use and zoning. He represents Fortune 500 companies, and medium to smaller-sized businesses on a variety of complex regulatory issues.

• Bob Troyer — An attorney with Hogan and Hartson law firm, Troyer is a trial lawyer who, according to his company’s Web site, focuses on class action litigation, complex commercial litigation, environmental litigation, white collar defense, and internal investigations. He has litigated cases in over 10 federal jurisdictions and argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Jaime Pena — Currently an assistant U.S. attorney in Colorado, working in the economic crimes division.

• Michael Carrigan — A former Denver deputy district attorney who currently works at the Denver-based law firm Holland & Hart. “It’s something I’m seriously considering, and (it’s) flattering to have some people mentioning my name,” Carrigan told PolitickerCO.com early this month.

• State Rep. Bernie Buescher — The expected next speaker of the House of Representatives was defeated in his re-election bid and has subsequently expressed interest in the U.S. attorney position, as well as the vacant position for president of Colorado State University. Buescher has also made the final cut and is one of three being considered for the vacant Colorado secretary of state position.