Sources from the Republican National Committee and in the office of U.S. Rep. William Clinger, R-Warren, confirmed yesterday that University official Thomas Larson is being considered for a top post in President George Bush's administration.

Larson, special assistant to University President Bryce Jordan and former Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, has been rumored as a candidate to head the Federal Highway Administration, under the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Joe Waldholtz, assistant to Pa. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Elsie Hillman, said White House officials told him Larson is " 'under very, very, very serious consideration,' and they couldn't tell us any more at this time."

Larson is "a very strong candidate" and has been recommended to Bush by state Republican officials, Waldholtz said. That backing may help Larson gain the FHA post, he said.

"When a person is qualified and has strong support in Pennsylvania, his name is forwarded to White House personnel with support from state leaders," Waldholtz said. "The state committee is solidly behind Larson."

Tammy Lindenberg, a spokeswoman for Clinger, said White House officials have told the representative that Larson is among the candidates for the post, but does not know whether the University official would be selected.

"Congressman Clinger believes that Larson would be an outstanding administrator," Lindenberg said.

Jay Allison, White House Press Office spokesman, described the process as secretive. He would not confirm that Larson is being considered for the FHA post.

"The president has not announced the FHA nominee," Allison said. "It could come at any time. We don't even know what's going to come down the pipeline until it hits our desk."

A spokeswoman for Larson said yesterday that he has heard the rumor but would not comment.

Joseph Rhodes, FHA policy office director, said the FHA director selected by Bush would report to the transportation secretary and oversee highway safety programs as well as research and motor carrier safety. Other duties can be added by the transportation secretary, he added.

The department oversees federal highway funds and forms national highway policies as well as working with Congress on highway investments, Rhodes said.

However, the qualifications are not listed in great detail in Title 49 of the United States Code, which details the position's responsibilities, Rhodes said.

"The nominee will be someone about whom the president feels comfortable in his ability to give good advice and in running a large department," he said.

Though transportation experience is not necessary for the appointment, recent FHA leaders have included two state governors, several state transportation secretaries and one motor carrier industry executive, Rhodes said.

Rumors linking Larson with top White House roles have been in the news before. In November, Larson was mentioned as a possible candidate for U.S. transportation secretary in a Washington Post article.

Post writer David Osborne noted improvements at PennDOT under Larson and an increasing trend toward bringing state officials into Washington roles.

"Larson gained national renown by turning a department riddled with scandal into a national model, while rebuilding the nation's worst highway system," the Post article said.

Shortly after that article appeared, University political science professor Robert S. Friedman, who teaches a course on government bureaucracy, said Larson would not be a leading candidate for the top transportation post because of political considerations.

However, Friedman said those considerations would not bar Larson from the nearly 3,000 other major political appointments in the Bush administration.