A Pojoaque High School graduate was nominated Wednesday to become New Mexico's next U.S. attorney.

Career prosecutor Kenneth J. Gonzales, who has worked in the U.S. Attorney's Las Cruces office in recent years, will replace U.S. Attorney Gregory Fouratt, assuming he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Gonzales, 45, has worked for the U.S. Attorney's Office since 1999.

Fouratt has been interim U.S. attorney since David Iglesias was forced out during the controversial 2006 U.S. attorney firings by the Bush administration.

Gonzales' nomination was announced jointly by New Mexico's U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall.

Among those singing Gonzales' praises was Iglesias. "Ken is a great choice. Based on his ten-plus years of federal prosecution experience, he is seasoned. As a native New Mexican ... he understands this district.

Gonzales, Iglesias said, has had cases "as diverse as a border re-entry case, difficult Indian Country jurisdictional cases, all the way up to possible espionage and corruption matters. He's well respected by my prior office and is a gentleman. I have no doubt that he will do a top-notch job. He's also a devoted family man and Army Reserve officer. He's got my complete confidence and respect."

Iglesias' firing in 2007 played a role in the resignation of then-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. He was one of several U.S. attorneys fired by Gonzales' Justice Department allegedly due to political pressure from the White House.

Both senators had high praise for Gonzales.

"President Obama could not have selected a more qualified, capable candidate for this important position. Ken has the experience required of a U.S. attorney, having served for the past 11 years as a career prosecutor working on cases involving organized crime, narcotics, anti-terrorism, and other violent crimes," Bingaman said in a news release. "Ken worked as an aide to me more than a decade ago, so I have witnessed first-hand his keen legal judgment, fair-mindedness and strong work ethic. I applaud the president for choosing someone of Ken's caliber and experience."

"I applaud the President's decision to nominate Kenneth Gonzales as the next U.S. Attorney for New Mexico," Sen. Tom Udall said in a written statement. "Ken Gonzales' legal expertise and long record of statewide public service — including more than a decade as Assistant U.S. Attorney — make him extremely qualified for the job. He will make an excellent U.S. Attorney, and I look forward to working with President Obama and Sen. Bingaman to ensure his swift confirmation by the Senate."

Gonzales received his Bachelor of Arts and law degrees from The University of New Mexico.

He also served as a judicial law clerk to a chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court, and was a legislative assistant to Bingaman on criminal justice, Indian affairs and other issues. He has also been a judge advocate in the U.S. Army.

Bingaman and Udall interviewed all candidates who expressed interest in the U.S. attorney position and sent a short list to the White House for consideration.

Gonzales' nomination will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee before the full Senate votes on his confirmation.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.