Steve Murdock gets a new gig

State demographer Steve Murdock is getting a new gig.

President Bush has nominated the state demographer of Texas, Steven Murdock, to be director of the Census, the White House said Monday.

Murdock would replace current Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon, who said late last year he would leave the agency when a new director was confirmed. Kincannon said at the time he felt he had lost the confidence of the Commerce Department, which oversees the bureau. He did not offer specifics.

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Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., a member of the House Government Reform Committee's Census panel, said Monday, "It appears that the president, after a lengthy delay, has finally nominated a career professional to be the Census director."

She said Murdock "has a reputation for professionalism and independence," which will be an important factor for the Senate as it considers the nomination of a new director as the agency prepares for the 2010 Census.

Murdock's reputation is well deserved, as BOR and the Observer blog report. I'll second the Observer's recommendation of their interview with Murdock from 2005. He's a good guy, and he's a great choice to head up the Census. Their gain is our loss. Best of luck to Steve Murdock in the new gig.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on June 20, 2007 to National news