Last week Credit Union Times, via CUTimes.com, brokethe story that former Oregon Senator Rick Metsger was going to the be the WhiteHouse’s nominee to fill the vacant seat on the NCUA Board, laterconfirmed by the administration.

Metsger has a strong credit union background, which was a partof credit unions’ wish list. From 1993 to 2001, Metsger served as avolunteer board member at Portland Teachers CU, now OnPoint Community CU with $3.3 billion in assets. He also hasconsulted for the Northwest Credit Union Association.

As an interesting historical note, CEO of the NWCUA Troy Stang made a go at the NCUA Board to replace Dennis Dollarbut instead ended up at Treasury’s Community Development FinancialInstitutions Fund.

Demonstrating his credit union bona fides long before this stepin his political career, Metsger (then a state senator and partnerin his public relations firm) wrote in a letter to the editor toCredit Union Times in 2004:

All credit union executives, volunteers and members must notrest on the laurels of victories past when confronting a politicalforce that is determined to seriously alter or destroy the creditunion movement. We must remember that the credit union story needsto be told over and over again, recognizing our unique structureand member service, lest we fall prey to the banker mantra thatcredit unions are “just like banks.” As one who has worked hard inpassing both national and state credit union legislation, Iunderstand all too well that the next battle is just around thecorner. The grassroots efforts of the 1990s must not rest inhibernation or we will all pay a very hefty price. Our story is agood one and it is critical that the very real issues thatdifferentiate banks from credit unions be articulated at all levelsof government. That time is now.

The current NCUA board members, who have their own politicaljuice, seem to be welcoming him with open arms. “Rick will bringvaluable perspectives to the NCUA Board, having served as avolunteer credit union board member as well as a state legislator.Chairman Debbie Matz said. Board Member Michael Fryzel stated, “Itis an honor and privilege to serve and I wish him every success inhis confirmation process.” He may need all the best wishes he cangarner. The process often turns into a grueling marathon.

Credit union leaders may or may not recall the name Gilbert Gonzalez, the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistantsecretary who withdrew his name from consideration for the NCUABoard in November 2003 after months of waiting. He had beennominated to replace Dennis Dollar, who served more than a yearbeyond his term.

After that was when Stang’s name first came up for the NCUABoard, as did former Federal Housing Finance Board Member TimothyO'Neill and then-Missouri Credit Union Association CEO Rosie Holub.This second round of vetting also took months and politicsnaturally played huge role in it. Rodney Hood eventually took theseat vacated by Dollar.

The initial application process is the same as any job but anatypical amount of political prowess is also required. A nominationmust come from the White House and is sent to the Senate Banking,Housing and Urban Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing. Thecommittee then recommends yay or nay to the full Senate, whichnormally follows the committee’s recommendation. But even prior tothe nomination, a full FBI background check takes place, includingfinancials and past employment.

Metsger, a Democrat, previously had two ethics charges againsthim brought by the Oregon Republican Party. The allegations werethat he took income without claiming it and that he intentionallymissed–and only missed–votes affecting his clients, one of whichwas the NWCUA, to avoid ethics disclosures.

The first was dismissed by the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission. I didn’tfind any conclusion to the second allegation prior to press time.These issues are what has been delved into and will continue tobe.

The process also entails disclosing anything that couldembarrass the president or the applicant. Previous nominee Carla Decker, CEO of DC Government Employees Credit Union, waspulled from the running after disclosure of the then-poor financialcondition of the credit union. The mess led to the highly publicban of one of her board members accused of leaking confidentialinformation regarding the credit union.

The nominee is also usually paired with another subject-relatednominee from the other political party in a demonstration offairness, efficiency and subliminal political threat. If I don’tget my guy, you don’t get your guy.

Who might Metsger be paired with? There’s Consumer FinancialProtection Bureau nominee Richard Cordray who appears in a permanent hold pattern by theRepublicans. Remember, any one senator can stop anything.

The other option is to wait for Fryzel’s board seat to expire inAugust, nominate a Republican and then switch the terms. The openseat vacated by GigiHyland only has about four years left on it. Fryzel’s seat willhave the full six years. Then the Democrats are assured alonger-serving board member even beyond President Obama’s term.