WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey said Tuesday that he has lobbied President Bush to nominate community banker Terry J. Jorde to the Federal Reserve Board.
Ms. Jorde, the president and chief executive officer of $34.6 million-asset CountryBank USA in Cando, N.D., is a family friend of the Texas lawmaker. Both hail from Cando and are alumni of Jamestown College in North Dakota.
Reports that Ms. Jorde may be appointed "are just tickling me plum," Rep. Armey said. "She's a bright young woman who I'm sure studied finance and economics at Jamestown College," the former economics professor joked. "I've spoken to the President about her twice," Rep. Armey told reporters, adding that Mr. Bush had said the community banker made a favorable impression on him. Ms. Jorde was one of 32 executives who attended an economic forum in Austin, Tex., that Mr. Bush convened in January before his inauguration.
Rep. Armey added that he did not know whom the President would select. Ms. Jorde, 43, has been interviewed by White House officials to fill one of the open seats on either the Fed or the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Another woman being considered for one of these appointments is Gay Wisbey. Ms. Wisbey, 46, is currently the director of markets and exchanges for the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority, which is similar to the SEC.
