BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- A Birmingham law school dean has emerged as the latest candidate for Jefferson County attorney, setting off a round of behind the scenes discussions over who can earn enough votes to get the job.

James Bushnell, of Birmingham School of Law, has talked with most commissioners about the position, including Jimmie Stephens who said Bushnell is among "my top three candidates."

Bushnell joins Carol Sue Nelson, a Maynard Cooper Gale attorney, who was all but endorsed for the county attorney's position last week by Commission President David Carrington.

Stephens said Bushnell was "another good candidate, one among many that we're interviewing." But Stephens left no doubt he was clearly impressed with Bushnell.

"He's very well qualified. He has the expertise. He's a teacher of lawyers, he's a mentor to lawyers," Stephens said. "He has executive capabilities. He's a very good and viable candidate. I believe that he would make a very capable county attorney.

"His has general knowledge of Alabama law. I like his experience and dedication to assisting Jefferson County. He is vested in Jefferson County and wants to see us succeed," Stephens said. "And he was one of the requisites that I like to have - he has a few gray hairs and that means he has experience."

Bushnell is dean of Birmingham School of Law and a graduate of Birmingham Southern College; Cumberland School of Law and the University of Alabama.

Efforts to reach Bushnell for comment were unsuccessful.

The question now is who can get three votes needed to fill the vacancy created last month by the involuntary retirement of former County Attorney Jeff Sewell.

Carrington and Commissioner Sandra Little Brown seem to favor Nelson. Stephens acknowledged Bushnell was in top three, but he declined to name the other two. Knight said he's yet to meet with all of the candidates.

That leaves Commissioner George Bowman, the possible swing vote, who acknowledged today that he has had several meetings with Carrington and Stephens about the next county attorney.

Some of those conversations involved Nelson and Bushnell but also additional candidates, Bowman said. "The field is widening," he said.

Bowman said there is a lot of interest in the job. "I've had calls, letters, visits . . . I didn't know I had so many friends," he said.

On Sunday, Bowman said Bushnell even visited his church to say he was a candidate for the job. "I was called out of my Sunday school class to meet him," Bowman said.

Bowman has vigorously pushed longtime Assistant County Attorney Theo Lawson, a former assistant City of Birmingham attorney, deputy district attorney and former candidate for Jefferson County DA, to replace Sewell.

"He's eminently qualified and he's done a fine job," Bowman said. "Plus he's the senior most person in that office. Theo should be given equal opportunity as any other candidate."

The person confirmed by a majority of the county commission would replace Sewell who was ousted after four commissioners voted to terminate his employment last month.

The position was filled for five days by Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin who accepted, then declined the job.