President George W. Bush plans to nominate carpet manufacturing executive Albert Frink, executive vice president and co-founder of the Santa Ana, Calif-based Fabrica International unit of Dixie Group Inc., to serve as U.S. manufacturing czar. The position has been created to help reverse heavy manufacturing job losses.

To serve as manufacturing czar, Frink will have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Tony Raimondo, the Bush administration's first pick for the new post of assistant secretary of commerce for manufacturing and services, withdrew from consideration after Democrats accused him of outsourcing U.S. jobs to China. Democratic presidential challenger Sen. John Kerry and other Democrats have been critical of the White House for endorsing outsourcing of U.S. jobs and not doing enough to protect jobs.

The administration has touted the new manufacturing post as one of the steps Bush is taking to deal with heavy manufacturing job losses since he took office, an issue critical to voters in many Midwest swing states such as Ohio and Missouri.