FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

ITALIAN AMERICAN GOVERNOR APPOINTED

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CANADA

    (WASHINGTON, DC – February 13, 2001) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) congratulates President George W. Bush on his appointment of Governor Argeo Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts as United States Ambassador to Canada. The NIAF supported Governor Cellucci’s appointment to the position.    

    “President Bush has made another quality appointment of an Italian American to his Administration in Governor Paul Cellucci, ” said Frank J. Guarini, NIAF chairman.

    “The NIAF was proud to support him and continues to work on a daily basis on behalf of gaining additional appointments of qualified Italian Americans throughout the Administration, ” said Joseph R. Cerrell, NIAF president.

    Governor Cellucci is one of three Italian Americans who currently serve as chief executives of the state where Italian Americans are an important portion of the population with approximately 3 million Italian Americans in New York , 1.5 million in New Jersey and 900,000 in Massachusetts.

    Paul Cellucci, the grandson of Italian immigrants, was elected Governor of Massachusetts on November 3, 1998. He has been serving since July 1997 when Bill Weld resigned the post. His career in government began in 1970 when he was elected to the Hudson Charter Commission. In 1976, he was elected to the first of four terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. A native of Massachusetts, Cellucci received his law degree from Boston College School of Law in 1973. Cellucci also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1970 until 1978 when he was honorably discharged with the rank of captain.