Obama victory likely to end Wrigley’s reign
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Dems tossing names for N.D. U.S. attorney
FARGO (AP) - Democrats are floating a number of names for North Dakota's U.S. attorney in the Barack Obama administration.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., says the state's congressional delegation will work with the Obama administration to reach a consensus on a nominee. He said it's ''far too early to be talking about names.''
''I'm sure we'll have some excellent candidates,'' Dorgan said.
Former attorney general Heidi Heitkamp said she is not interested in being one of them. She is in private practice.
''It's not a job I'm looking to do,'' Heitkamp said.
Bismarck attorney Tim Purdon, now a Democratic national committeeman, said he is interested.
''I would be honored to be considered,'' said Purdon, who once clerked for a federal judge.
Fargo state Rep. Jasper Schneider, whose late father, John Schneider, preceded Wrigley as U.S. attorney, also is interested in the possibility. He narrowly lost a race to Adam Hamm for state insurance commissioner Tuesday.
Schneider said he would be honored to be considered for U.S. attorney, but he is preparing for the upcoming legislative session.
U.S. Attorney Drew WrigleyObama victory likely to end Wrigley's reign
FARGO (AP) - North Dakota's top federal prosecutor expects to be looking for a job after Barack Obama takes over as president, but he won't talk about political plans.
"I'm not trying to be coy about it. There may be other options down the road, but right now I don't know what they are," U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said. He has thought about jobs in law, business, and public service, he said.
New presidents typically appoint federal prosecutors from their own political party. Wrigley calls it the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Wrigley, 43, was one of the youngest U.S. attorneys in the country when he was appointed by George W. Bush seven years ago. The Fargo native had worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia.
"There was a lot more anxiety four years ago because I had only been in the job for 2 years and felt I had a lot more work to do," Wrigley said, referring to the tight race between Bush and John Kerry. "I've been blessed to serve for two terms. We'll have to see what happens next."
Wrigley met with most of his staff Wednesday morning to thank them for their work and said he would keep them up to date on his plans. He said he might be asked to "leave promptly" after the inauguration, or perhaps stay for a few months to help with the transition.
The U.S. attorney's office has a staff of about 50 people, including 17 lawyers.
"The personal aspect of that is always hard," Wrigley said. "I have had the chance to work with a lot of dedicated and hardworking people."
Staff members are civil servants and should not lose their jobs, he said.
Since Wrigley took over in 2001, some of his bigger cases have involved drug trafficking, violent crime and child pornography.
Wrigley prosecuted the first North Dakota death penalty case in 100 years, in which Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. was convicted of killing University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin. Rodriguez awaits execution on death row in an Indiana prison.
Wrigley's office also handled what is believed to be the area's largest drug conspiracy case, known as Operation Speed Racer. Nearly 50 people have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing, including five defendants convicted in the death of an East Grand Forks, Minn., man.
Dems tossing names for N.D. U.S. attorney
FARGO (AP) - Democrats are floating a number of names for North Dakota's U.S. attorney in the Barack Obama administration.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., says the state's congressional delegation will work with the Obama administration to reach a consensus on a nominee. He said it's ''far too early to be talking about names.''
''I'm sure we'll have some excellent candidates,'' Dorgan said.
Former attorney general Heidi Heitkamp said she is not interested in being one of them. She is in private practice.
''It's not a job I'm looking to do,'' Heitkamp said.
Bismarck attorney Tim Purdon, now a Democratic national committeeman, said he is interested.
''I would be honored to be considered,'' said Purdon, who once clerked for a federal judge.
Fargo state Rep. Jasper Schneider, whose late father, John Schneider, preceded Wrigley as U.S. attorney, also is interested in the possibility. He narrowly lost a race to Adam Hamm for state insurance commissioner Tuesday.
Schneider said he would be honored to be considered for U.S. attorney, but he is preparing for the upcoming legislative session.
FARGO (AP) - North Dakota's top federal prosecutor expects to be looking for a job after Barack Obama takes over as president, but he won't talk about political plans.
"I'm not trying to be coy about it. There may be other options down the road, but right now I don't know what they are," U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said. He has thought about jobs in law, business, and public service, he said.
New presidents typically appoint federal prosecutors from their own political party. Wrigley calls it the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Wrigley, 43, was one of the youngest U.S. attorneys in the country when he was appointed by George W. Bush seven years ago. The Fargo native had worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia.
"There was a lot more anxiety four years ago because I had only been in the job for 2 years and felt I had a lot more work to do," Wrigley said, referring to the tight race between Bush and John Kerry. "I've been blessed to serve for two terms. We'll have to see what happens next."
Wrigley met with most of his staff Wednesday morning to thank them for their work and said he would keep them up to date on his plans. He said he might be asked to "leave promptly" after the inauguration, or perhaps stay for a few months to help with the transition.
The U.S. attorney's office has a staff of about 50 people, including 17 lawyers.
"The personal aspect of that is always hard," Wrigley said. "I have had the chance to work with a lot of dedicated and hardworking people."
Staff members are civil servants and should not lose their jobs, he said.
Since Wrigley took over in 2001, some of his bigger cases have involved drug trafficking, violent crime and child pornography.
Wrigley prosecuted the first North Dakota death penalty case in 100 years, in which Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. was convicted of killing University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin. Rodriguez awaits execution on death row in an Indiana prison.
Wrigley's office also handled what is believed to be the area's largest drug conspiracy case, known as Operation Speed Racer. Nearly 50 people have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing, including five defendants convicted in the death of an East Grand Forks, Minn., man.
