The NCUA confirmed on Friday that NCUA Board Member RickMetsger has chosen Michael Radway, a Democratic Party official inOregon, as his senior policy adviser.

“Michael comes to us with an impressive legislative and policybackground, and a deep knowledge of the credit union model,”Metsger said in a statement.

“His commitment to public service includes work in finance,affordable housing, community development and education. He has thekind of broad experience in policy development, legislation,strategic planning and outreach that make him an excellent fit forthe role of Senior Policy Advisor,” the new board member'sstatement said. “I am looking forward to working with him, and I amsure that NCUA will benefit from his energy and judgment.”

Radway, a Democratic National Committee member, currently servesas senior director of government relations for the KnowledgeLearning Corp. in Portland, Ore. Metsger is a former Oregon state legislator.

“Mike spent 21 years working as legislative director forDemocratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and as aprofessional staff member for the House Banking Committee, where heserved as a principal investigator for House Democrats duringnumerous GOP witch hunts launched against President Clinton,”according to his biography on the Democratic Party of Oregonwebsite.

“He also organized a successful effort to pass legislationoverturning a 5-4 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court which made itdifficult for consumers to join credit unions,” the biography alsosaid.

The page containing Radway's biography on the Democratic Partyof Oregon website was accessible as of Wednesday but has since beenlocked. It now requires a username and password.

Sources told Credit Union Times thatWhite House approval is pending. The White House would not confirmthe approval of Radway when contacted about the matter earlier thisweek. Radway was unavailable for comment.