White House nominates new US Ambassador to Malta

The White House said US President George Bush intends to nominate Molly Hering Bordonaro of Oregon - a political appointee - to be the next American ambassador to Malta.

Ms Bordonaro currently serves as principal of The Gallatin Group in Portland, Oregon, a public relations and public affairs firm operating in the North West United States.

The ambassador-designate was Mr Bush's regional campaign chairman for the Pacific States (California, Oregon and Washington State) in the presidential campaigns of 2000 and 2004 as well as the chairman of the Oregon Victory 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns.

In 1998, she was the Republican Party's candidate for the US House of Representatives in Oregon's First District but was not elected.

In 2001, she was recognised by the Portland Business Journal as one of nine People of the Year for her community service and leadership.

All ambassadorial nominations are subject to Senate confirmation and following such confirmation it is expected that the new ambassador will arrive here in late summer, the US embassy said.

Ms Bordonaro is the fifth consecutive political appointment as US Ambassador to Malta. Previous appointments were career diplomats.