Caleb on U.S. attorney: ‘I’m hoping for Josh Marquis’

Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb said Wednesday that he was not interested in pursuing an appointment to be Oregon’s next U.S. attorney, but he was hoping one of his fellow D.A.’s was.

“I’m hoping for Josh Marquis, who has done a great job,” Caleb told PolitickerOR.com.

Caleb is the second district attorney to express support for Marquis, the Clatsop County D.A., who said Tuesday that he would be interested in becoming the state’s next U.S. attorney. But Caleb was a little skeptical that the eventual pick for the U.S. attorney would fall to someone outside of the Portland area.

“I can’t believe they’d pick anyone not from Portland because it’s such a political job,” Caleb said.

Caleb, who has been the Klamath County D.A. for 23 years, had his name whispered through Democratic circles as a potential candidate for the position. He said he was honored to be thought of for the post, and that his son, who is currently in law school, was thrilled to hear his name mentioned. But Caleb was not interested in going after the job.

“I have no interest, and no one has ever contacted me,” Caleb said regarding the position. “I’m happy where I am in Klamath County.”