U.S. President George W. Bush has nominated Catherine Todd Bailey of Kentucky to be the next American ambassador to Latvia. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would replace Brian E. Carlson, who has served as the ambassador since 2001.

Bailey is not a career diplomat, but has been a strong supporter of the Bush Administration, according to press reports. She is a national committeewoman for the Republican Party in Kentucky, according to the Republican National Committee. She and her husband, Irving Bailey of the venture capital firm Chrysalis Ventures, are top donors to the Bush campaign for reelection.

Bailey also is founder and president of Operation Open Arms, a charity that cares for children of incarcerated mothers.

The White House announced Bailey’s nomination on Sept. 8.

Ulf Schenkmanis, one of Latvia’s five honorary consuls in Sweden, died Sept. 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced. Schenkmanis, a journalist and writer, was based in Karlstad (Varmland Lan), Sweden.

He was named an honorary consul in February 2003.

Schenkmanis, 70, had recently undergone treatment for cancer, according to the daily newspaper Aftonbladet.

Schenkmanis worked as a radio and television producer for more than 40 years. He also was the author of a series of travel guides. According to the ministry, Schenkmanis was planning the 18th guide in the series to be about Latvia.

Varmland Lan is in west central Sweden.

Latvia’s next ambassador to the United States may be Māris Riekstiņš, replacing Aivis Ronis, whose tour of duty ends this year, according to Latvian media reports. Riekstiņš has served as the state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1993.

Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks announced his choice Aug. 31. If confirmed by President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Riekstiņš would become Latvia’s fourth ambassador to the United States since the nation regained independence in 1991.

Riekstiņš, 41, is described as one of the foreign ministry’s most experienced diplomats. He has frequently been involved in matters dealing with the United States and its Latvian community, but has never had the role of ambassador.

Educated at the Latvian Sports Institute and the University of Latvia, Riekstiņš joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 and was named state secretary in August 1993, according to the ministry’s Web site. He has been involved in Latvia’s negotiations to joined the NATO defense alliance and the World Trade Organization, as well as the U.S.-Baltic Charter.

Ronis became ambassador in 2000, replacing Ojārs Kalniņš, who returned to Rīga to head the Latvian Institute. Ronis has been offered the post of ambassador to NATO, according to Latvian media reports.

In addition to Latvia’s embassy in Washington, D.C., honorary consuls serve in California, Connecticut, New York, Ohio and Texas.