Hillman is reportedly getting US marshal post

Former state representative and lieutenant governor candidate Reed V. Hillman is expected to soon land a much-coveted political appointment as US marshal for Massachusetts, according to leading state GOP sources.

The sources said the White House is about to announce that Hillman, 58, a former head of the State Police, will be named to the $130,000-a-year patronage post, which has been vacant for the past 18 months. The position was last held by Anthony Dichio, who was dismissed in August 2005 after a Justice Department report found that he routinely failed to work full work weeks and had misused his official vehicle.

Hillman said yesterday that he was unaware of any pending announcement, but confirmed that he would take the job if offered. "Anything on that will have to come from the White House," said Hillman, who stepped down as State Police commander in 1999 and then represented Sturbridge in the House of Representatives for six years. "All I know is that I am in the mix with four others."

But two leading Massachusetts Republican Party officials who have followed the appointment process said the White House has decided to give Hillman the job and will make an announcement within days.

"It's a matter of paperwork," said one of the sources, who has been involved in the appointment process and confirmed that the Massachusetts Republican leadership has lined up behind Hillman. "All the appropriate people agree that he's the right person."

Hillman was slated to get the position last March when Kerry Healey, the GOP candidate for governor, chose him as her running mate.

His decision to join the political ticket left the White House with four other candidates nominated by former governor Mitt Romney in September 2005. All had a background in law enforcement, but no appointment was made, allowing Hillman to take the post after the campaign.

Hillman had cleared a security background check when Healey chose him , but when the appointment process resumed federal authorities were required to conduct a new security check, which took several months, according to one of the sources who confirmed the pending appointment.

The US marshal post is one of a handful of federal positions in Massachusetts appointed directly by the president.

The White House would not comment yesterday on the appointment. "We don't have anything to announce right now," said spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore. "We don't speculate on personnel decisions."

The appointment is particularly sensitive for Massachusetts Republican leaders in the aftermath of Dichio's fall from grace.

The veteran State Police officer, who served on former governor Paul Cellucci's security detail, came under scrutiny from the Justice Department's inspector general after an investigation by the Globe revealed that Dichio frequently worked very short days.

The Massachusetts marshal has a staff of about 120 who are responsible for security in federal courthouses and protecting judges, witnesses, attorneys, and jurors.