Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is making nice with the across-the-street neighbors by nominating Arthur House to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

House has a long career in public service, including being the public face of two federal intelligence agencies since the election of President Obama: the Office of National Intelligence and the DOD’s National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. He previously was a senior vice president at Webster Bank.

As far as his nomination being a neighborly gesture: House also is the brother-in-law of Attorney General George Jepsen. Jepsen lives across the street from the governor’s official residence in Hartford.

House ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1984 against Republican Nancy Johnson, despite enjoying a dose of favorable publicity after saving someone from drowning in the Connecticut River during the campaign. More recently, he lost a run for state Senate in the Republican-leaning 8th District.

His father was Charles S. House, who was the chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court.

House resides in Simsbury.

On PURA, he would succeed Anna M. Ficeto, a former legal counsel to Gov. M. Jodi Rell. She was recently named a Superior Court judge.

“Throughout his career, Art has routinely exhibited strong leadership qualities and an independent voice, in addition to possessing valuable public service experience that will serve well in this role,” Malloy said. “He is passionate about his work and will provide a dynamic voice to carry out PURA’s mission.”