Despite Talk, California League's President Says He's Not Interested in

president of the Credit Union National Association, David L. Chatfield was considered a possible successor. Now president of the California Credit Union League, Mr. Chatfield is considered an ambitious man whose resume includes a stint on the National Credit Union Administration Board as well as executive positions with the Alaska Credit Union League, the CUNA Washington office, and the Filene Research Institute. For Mr. Chatfield, sources claim, taking the top job at the Madison, Wis., trade group would be the next logical step. But in an interview last week, Mr. Chatfield denied any interest in the position. "I will not apply nor will I be recruited for the job," he said. "We have a lot to do here yet." But he noted that some of his own employees suspect he might want to leave them. "My staff makes sure the Madison weather reports are on my desk every morning," he said. Instead of moving to Wisconsin, Mr. Chatfield is working to elevate the California league within the national trade group by increasing its presence in Washington. Delegates from the California association and Golden State credit unions have paid two visits to Washington so far this year to meet with legislators, White House officials, and regulatory and congressional staff members. The California League's lobbying commitment is apparent in its budget. In its $4.4 million budget for 1996, 29% of the money is dedicated to some form sort of advocacy, Mr. Chatfield said. CUNA's Washington office has bristled at the intrusion of West Coast outsiders onto their turf, sources said. The lobbying staff of the industry's largest trade group was particularly incensed when league officials met with leaders of the rival National Association of Federal Credit Unions and congressional staff. The California league also broke with the CUNA office by opposing a Senate bill that would tighten federal oversight of federally insured, state-chartered credit unions. Mr. Chatfield shrugs off these gripes. "It's no longer enough to have paid lobbyists to make contacts in Washington," he said. Referring to the Washington office, Mr. Chatfield added, "Maybe it has taken people a while to acknowledge that this is the new face of lobbying."