Bush to nominate Massachusetts governor as ambassador to Canada

By John King/CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Tuesday announced his intention to nominate Massachusetts Gov. Paul Cellucci to be the next U.S. ambassador to Canada.

Cellucci is not only a former colleague of Bush, the former Texas governor, but also served in the Massachusetts legislature with White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card.

In a statement, the president said, "As a governor from the Northeast he has worked closely with Canada on issues of mutual concern like energy, trade and preserving the environment. His appointment signifies the importance I place on the close relationship between the United States and Canada."

Cellucci was lieutenant governor and assumed the governorship when William Weld stepped down from the post in 1997; at the time, then-President Clinton planned to name Weld ambassador to Mexico but the plan was scuttled because of conservative Republican objections to Weld. Cellucci won election in his own right in 1998.

If confirmed by the Senate, which is expected, Cellucci would resign as governor and be succeeded by Lt. Gov. Jane Swift.

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