Somewhere on the Barack Obama administration's to-do list in coming days is picking a new U.S. attorney for New Mexico.

While the job probably isn't too high on that list, interest is building in local legal and political circles about who will take over the Albuquerque office.

About a dozen people have expressed interest, according to the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and political observers are watching to see what the appointment means, if anything, for an ongoing federal "pay-to-play" investigation involving New Mexico government and political figures.

A federal grand jury investigation is said to be focused on how a major political contributor to Gov. Bill Richardson, California-based CDR Financial Products, received lucrative state financial business.

Richardson, who along with CDR has denied any wrongdoing, cited the investigation when he withdrew as Obama's nominee for secretary of the Commerce Department, saying he didn't want to delay the Cabinet confirmation process for the new administration in Washington.

Political observers say it's hard to know yet whether a new U.S. attorney would affect that proceeding.

Obama is likely to pick a Democrat to eventually replace the current U.S. attorney for New Mexico, Greg Fouratt, but hasn't publicly outlined his plans for the attorneys subject to his appointment across the nation.

Fouratt, a veteran federal prosecutor who grew up in Roswell, was chosen by a panel of federal judges, not President Bush.

He replaced David Iglesias, who was among a handful of U.S. attorneys whom the Justice Department removed from office in 2007.

The new appointment technically could happen any time after Obama is sworn into office today, but seems more likely to happen in the next few months, observers said.

A spokesman for Fouratt didn't return calls seeking comment Monday, but has said in recent weeks that he hadn't heard of any immediate plans for a change in leadership in the New Mexico office.

A spokeswoman for Bingaman's office said the Obama administration hasn't given a timeline for when nominations should be forwarded to his office or when the president will name new attorneys. Bingaman and U.S. Sen. Tom Udall will work together on the nomination, their offices said.

Gov. Bill Richardson's office said it's not up to the governor to recommend anyone, and he has not done so.

Immigration cases, federal drug- and white-collar criminal investigations and violent offenses on Indian land are among the matters the U.S. attorney deals with in New Mexico.

Lawyers who have applied for the post include state Rep. Al Park, an Albuquerque Democrat.

"If it's something Sen. Bingaman and the Obama administration think I could be helpful at, I'd be honored," he said. "If not, I'm happy where I am."

Park said he sees the job's main task as serving justice. "It's the top federal law-enforcement officer in the state, and the nice thing is they'll be insulated from any political pressure. The U.S. attorney's job is to do justice, plain and simple. That's what makes it among the best legal jobs in country."

Other names being floated are those of Santa Fe attorney John Pound, state Democratic Party chairman Brian Colón, city of Albuquerque Chief Public Safety Officer Pete Dinelli and two internal candidates at the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Norman Bay, former U.S. attorney for New Mexico, said there is a lot of interest within the legal community about who might be appointed.

"Being U.S. attorney is one of the best law jobs in New Mexico or in any other state," he said. "The U.S. attorney is the chief federal law-enforcement officer in the district in which she or he serves. The work is important and interesting."

Republicans, meanwhile, are also watching closely — and hoping the Obama pick gets some scrutiny from the public.

"I suggest that all involved in commentary on public policy should be especially vigilant in this matter," John Dendahl, a former New Mexico Republican Party chairman, said in an e-mail. "The gamut must be allowed to run on the matter of Richardson, et al, and any interruption (worse, cessation) would be an inexcusable slap across the collective face of American citizens."

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.