President Barack Obama said he will nominate former Oregon stateSenator Rick Metsger to the NCUA Board.

Before filling the position, Metsger must first be confirmed bythe Senate.

According to the White House release late Wednesday, Metsger iscurrently president of the Salem, Ore.-based Parakletos StrategicPublic Affairs LLC, a position he has held since 2010.

He also served in the Oregon State Senate from 1999 to 2011, andas Senate President Pro Tempore from 2009 to 2011. Metsger also served on the Oregon State Treasury Debt PolicyAdvisory Commission from 2001 to 2011. He worked in broadcast newsprior to his political and public relations careers.

From 1993 to 2001, Metsger served as a volunteer board memberfor Portland Teachers CU, which has since been renamed OnPointCommunity CU and has $3.3 billion in assets.

He has a history of supporting credit union legislation, havingsponsored bills in Oregon that would allow the state's creditunions to accept public funds and raise a $100,000 member businessloan cap on state-chartered credit unions.

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

The White House announcement did not specify which term Metsgerwould fill. If Obama intends for Metsger to replace former BoardMember Gigi Hyland, who left the NCUA last Oct. 5 after serving more than a year pasther term's expiration, Metsger's term would be just four years.

NCUA Board members must serve a staggered six-year term, arestriction that dictates the shorter term to replace Hyland. NCUABoard Member Michael Fryzel's term ends Aug. 2. Fryzel is aRepublican.

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, also a Democrat, had beennominated to fill Hyland's seat.

“We congratulate former Oregon State Sen. Rick Metsger on hisnomination to the NCUA Board. In recent years, the board hashad to deal with very difficult issues. The board will need tocontinue to tackle those issues and more in the coming years.” FredBecker, NAFCU president/CEO said.

“Upon confirmation, we look forward to working with him and theNCUA Board and staff on behalf of our members to promote a positiveregulatory environment for credit unions,” Becker said.

Current board members Fryzel and Debbie Matz also issuedstatements Thursday supporting the nomination.

“Rick will bring valuable perspectives to the NCUA Board, havingserved as a volunteer credit union board member as well as a statelegislator. I look forward to welcoming Rick as soon as he isseated on the NCUA Board,” said Matz, the current board chair.

“I extend my sincerest congratulations to Senator Metsger on hisnomination by President Obama to the National Credit UnionAdministration Board,” said Fryzel. “It is an honor and privilegeto serve and I wish him every success in his confirmationprocess.”