Holton: ‘No comment’ on being potential next U.S. Attorney

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton refused to engage in speculation Wednesday that he is a potential candidate to be the state’s next U.S. attorney.

“I appreciate your call, but I really have no comment,” Holton told PolitickerOR.com when asked if he had any interest in being named to the position.

If President-elect Barack Obama wants to replace current Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut, then he has several Oregon attorneys, including Holton, who have been mentioned as candidates, including current Deputy Attorney General Pete Shepherd, Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis, and several others. Holton, who is currently serving as an assistant U.S. attorney, certainly has experience in the federal prosecutor’s office.

The U.S. attorney position is also seen as a platform that can be used to launch a career to a higher political office. Holton is one of the younger candidates on the shortlist, so theoretically he would be young enough and energetic enough to jump into another political office after finishing a stint as Oregon’s U.S. attorney.

Of course, Holton already has ties to political players;  Gov. Tim Kaine’s (D-Virginia) is his brother-in-law.