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Eid resigns federal post to run for atty. general

By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 7, 2009 at 2:36 p.m.

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Troy Eid says he wants to get an early start on his campaign.

Troy Eid says he wants to get an early start on his campaign.

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U.S. Attorney for Colorado Troy Eid said Wednesday he will resign his post Jan. 19 and begin campaigning almost immediately for state attorney general.

Eid, a Republican, already is scheduled to attend dozens of party meetings across the state in coming weeks. He's getting an early start in large part because of the GOP's poor showing in recent elections, he said.

"We have a lot more work to do," he said.

Eid said that if he wins the seat, his wife, Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid, would step down. "That gives you an idea how serious I am."

The current attorney general, Republican John Suthers, plans to run for U.S. Senate in 2010 against Democrat Michael Bennet, who is expected to take over the seat held by Sen. Ken Salazar when Salazar is named interior secretary later this month.

While no Democrats have formally announced plans to run for attorney general, the most talked-about potential candidate is Adams County District Attorney Don Quick. He told the Rocky earlier this week he had not yet made a decision.

Eid, who will return to private practice at the Denver firm Greenberg Traurig, could face a primary challenge from Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, who has expressed an interest in the seat. Buck could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The U.S. attorney - Colorado's top federal law enforcement officer - serves at the pleasure of the president and typically is of the same party.

Salazar, a Democrat, has said he wants to recommend a new U.S. attorney before he leaves office. Once a name is sent to the White House, a background check is conducted - a process that can take months. A formal nomination must then be approved by the Senate. Salazar's office won't say who is under consideration.

Eid said he will recommend that Dave Gaouette, his first assistant and executive assistant U.S. attorney, serve as interim U.S. attorney until a Democrat is confirmed.

Comments

  • January 7, 2009

    3:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    PaleoConservative writes:

    crtf writes:

    "Wow what a choice. No hope here to uncover the Columbine Coverup. His wife is a member of the supreme court who saw nothing wrong with the secret CYA meeting 3 days after Columbine."

    Allison Eid was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in 2006. She was a CU law professor at the time of the Columbine shootings. Care to revise your statement?

  • January 7, 2009

    3:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    It would be interesting to see if Colorado's republicans are ready for a statewide candidate whose last name is the same as a Muslim holiday.

  • January 7, 2009

    3:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    5280crazy writes:

    I would rather Allison stay with the state Supreme Court then Troy run for Attorney General.

  • January 7, 2009

    3:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    psyclone writes:

    jbowen43 - that's a non-sensical, and frankly stupid, remark.

    My question is why the RMN reporter found it necessary to identify Eid as a Republican but declined to identify Salazar, Villanueva, Troyer & Carrigan as Democrats.

    A good example of biased reporting and why I canceled my subscription to the newspaper.

  • January 8, 2009

    2:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mikeyg writes:

    5280, you're exactly right. If she resigns then the Dems get to appoint her replacement who gets to stay there until they're in there 70's. An AG is only in office for eight years. Bad trade.

    Honestly, I'd rather see Eid run for the US Senate against Bennett than Suthers. Nothing personal against John, but he comes across pretty stiff; Troy's a lot more charismatic and would be better on the campaign trail.

    John should run for Governor instead, he wears well in contrast to Ritter. And he's issued some pointedly different opinions on controversial and consequential changes the Ritter administration has implemented. There's instant campaign material available for contrast.

  • January 8, 2009

    10:25 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    psyclone writes:

    kudos to the RMN reporter, Sara Burnett, for amending the story in her re-write/update to identify ALL the players by their party affiliation.

  • January 8, 2009

    10:58 a.m.

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    5280crazy writes:

    I feel Troy's ambition is getting in the way of what is best for the state and conservatives. I recall he was soliciting campaign contributions to run for an at large regent's seat at the University of Colorado when he abandoned that for his current position. Now to prove, "how serious" he is about attaining office he's willing to have the only conservative on the COSCT resign her seat. What will that gain Colorado? Nothing. What will that gain Troy Eid? An elected office; that's all.
    Come on Troy set aside your blind ambition or jump ship, you're an embarassment to conservatives!

  • January 10, 2009

    9:22 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LouFromParker writes:

    A resignation entry on your resume looks much better than a termination entry.

    If Mr. Eid didn't resign on January 19th, he'd be fired on the 20th. It is customary and expected U.S. Attorney's are fired when new presidents are sworn in, especially if USA is of different persuasian.

  • January 11, 2009

    9:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    solar_satellite writes:

    Eid said that if he wins the seat, his wife, Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid, would step down. "That gives you an idea how serious I am." -- Mr. Eid is so serious that his wife will resign from the Supreme Court?!?

    Lou's point belongs in the article: Eid was due to be fired very soon.

    Suthers has no business in the Senate, or in any political office!