Bush Picks Adviser To Head FEMA

Thursday, January 4th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) â€” President-elect Bush on Thursday tapped longtime adviser Joe Allbaugh to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the department that responds to natural disasters and other domestic crises.

Bush announced the nomination at the governor's mansion, along with the appointment of Karl Rove as senior White House adviser. Allbaugh was manager of Bush's presidential campaign and Rove was its senior political strategist.

The third member of Bush's so-called ``Iron Triangle'' of loyal Texas advisers, Karen Hughes, was named White House counselor shortly after the hotly contested election.

``It's a wonderful pleasure to announce the triangle has been completed,'' Bush said.

``He is one of the reasons I was elected governor and one of the reasons I was elected president,'' Bush said of Rove. ``He will bring good judgment, good humor and good advice to the White House.''

He called Allbaugh a ``loyal and strong friend.''

Bush was giving Rove a huge portfolio, including the White House offices for politics, public liaison and strategic initiatives.

If confirmed by the Senate, Allbaugh will replace James Lee Witt, a close ally of President Clinton credited with reviving the agency.

Officials said Bush was close to making several other appointments, including:

â€”Nicholas E. Calio, a Washington lobbyist, expected to be the White House's top congressional liaison.

â€”Albert Hawkins, who served as budget director for Bush in Texas, slated to be Bush's liaison to the Cabinet.

â€”Margaret D. La Montagne, senior education adviser for the campaign, the front-runner to be domestic policy adviser.