Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Dennis Winner wants to be U.S. attorney

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The Charlotte Observer has the story:

Three former federal prosecutors from Charlotte – Pete Anderson, Anne Tompkins and Thomas Walker – are among at least four people hoping to become the next U.S. attorney for Charlotte and the Western District of North Carolina.

Each would have to gain the support of incoming Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan to have a chance of replacing Republican U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert, who was selected for the post in 2003 by President Bush.

Hagan will recommend Shappert’s successor to President Obama. The Democratic president will nominate the replacement, who must then be confirmed by the Senate.

Three of the potential candidates are Democrats. The fourth is registered as unaffiliated.

Lobbying is already under way. Anderson, Tompkins and Walker have each sent letters to Hagan expressing their interest in the job. Dennis Winner, a Superior Court judge from Asheville, has asked friends to contact Hagan on his behalf.