NCUA Board Appointee Could Still Be a Ways Off

WASHINGTON-Filling the vacant seat on the NCUA Board could still take several months, according to sources familiar with the process. “The White House is working it hard,” former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar told Credit Union Times. “They are narrowing their list of names.” However, he declined to name any names at this point, adding, “There are some names under serious consideration.” Dollar said he believes a decision on who the final nominee is could be made in the next couple of months but there has been debate over when the background check and Senate hearings should take place. NCUA Board Member Debbie Matz’ seat comes up in August of this year and Republicans may wait to put a Republican in that seat, rather than Dollar’s old seat that has about four years left on it. “Some Democrats are beginning to do their exploratory work,” Dollar said. NCUA’s three-member board must have at least one person from the non-presidential party on it. Pairing of appointments has been pretty common for these positions, Dollar suggested, because it greases the wheels of the process having one person from each party up at the same time. He pointed out that current NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson’s nomination was paired with Matz’ (D) and Dollar’s own was paired with then-recess appointee Yolanda Wheat. One name that has surfaced as a potential board appointee is attorney and former North Carolina State Senator Patrick Ballantine (R). “We know he’s being considered,” North Carolina league President John Radebaugh said, “and he’s always been supportive of our credit unions here.” The league is not publicly endorsing him, Radebaugh said. Another source familiar with the proceedings commented that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) may not have come in with a list of Democratic hopefuls for one of the spots on the NCUA Board under the hopes that former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) would retain his seat. However, CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference may be used as a launching pad for a whole new field of candidates for one of the positions. -