Bush Nominates New Chair of Public-Broadcasting Unit

President Bush has nominated Warren Bell, executive producer of the television show According to Jim and a contributor to the online edition of National Review magazine, to serve as chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in Washington, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Mr. Bell might not have an easy confirmation process in the Senate, the newspaper said, because he has strong conservative views. He was nominated to succeed Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, who was forced to resign after he was accused of injecting partisanship into the agency.

“After the damage caused by Ken Tomlinson’s activities, the last thing we need on the CPB board is another ideologue of any stripe,” said John Lawson, the president of the Association of Public Television Stations.

Mr. Bell said he has no intention of allowing his political beliefs to influence his new position, and urged critics to withhold their judgment of him. A spokesman for President Bush said Mr. Bell was well-qualified for the job.