Multiple sources have told Credit Union Times thatPresident Barack Obama intends to nominate former Oregon State Sen.Rick Metsger to serve on the NCUA Board.

If confirmed by the Senate, the Democrat would likely replaceformer Board Member Gigi Hyland, who left the NCUA last Oct. 5, after serving more than a year pasther term's expiration. The choice of a Democrat by Obama to replaceHyland is an odd one, because the term would presumably be justfour years.

According to the NCUA's website, each member serves a staggeredsix-year term, a restriction that dictates the shorter term toreplace Hyland.

If Obama intends for Metsger to replace current board memberMichael Fryzel, whose term expires Aug. 2, the president willeventually have to also appoint a Republican to join him andcurrent NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz, also a Democrat.

No more than two board members can be from the same politicalparty, according to the NCUA. However, nothing in the FederalCredit Union Act appears to prevent two Democrats from serving onthe board together.

A call to Metsger was not immediately returned.

In addition to serving in the Oregon State Senate from 1999 to2011, Metsger is a former vice chairman at Portland TeachersCU, which has since been renamed OnPoint Community CU. It has $3.3billion in assets. Before entering politics, Metsger was atelevision sports broadcaster.

He has a history of supporting credit union legislation, havingsponsored bills in Oregon that would allow credit unions to acceptpublic funds and raise a $100,000 member business loan cap onstate-chartered credit unions. The public fund bill was passed in 2010.

In a 2004 letter to the editor, Metsger warned credit union leadersagainst resting on their laurels of victories past when confrontingbanker lobby efforts.

“As one who has worked hard in passing both national and statecredit union legislation, I understand all too well that the nextbattle is just around the corner,” Metsger wrote then. “Thegrassroots efforts of the 1990's must not rest in hibernation or wewill all pay a very hefty price.”

The Credit Union Association of Oregon named Metsger its“Legislator of the Decade” at its 2009 annual meeting.

Metsger unsuccessfully ran for Oregon state treasurer in 2010,despite CUAO support and member credit unions campaigning in hisfavor.

Carla Decker, president/CEO of the $46 million District ofColumbia Employees FCU, withdrew her nomination to the NCUA board in February 2012,after former board member James Talbert leaked the credit union'sCAMEL score.

Talbert was banned from federally insured credit unions by the NCUA inMarch 2012 for the disclosure.

Decker had been nominated to fill Hyland's seat.

In 2011, Chairman Debbie Matz's salary from the NCUA was$165,300 and NCUA Board Members Michael Fryzel and Gigi Hyland eachmade $155,500.