California CUs Wade Into PoliticalCampaigns

WASHINGTON - (08/25/04) -- Credit union executives around thecountry have stepped into congressional campaigns in a big way thiselection season, but nowhere more than in California. Records onfile at the Federal Election Commission shows most of the biggestpolitical donors among credit unions are affiliated with GoldenState credit unions. The most prolific, as he has been in recentelections, is California CU League President David Chatfield, whomade 25 contributions totaling $9,124, most of it to Democratcandidates or committees. The most generous, as he has been inrecent elections, is Rudy Hanley, president of Orange CountyTeachers FCU, who, with his wife, made eight contributions for atotal of $13,450, all to Republican candidates or committees. Nextwere: Mark Holbrook, president Evangelical Christian CU, 10contributions totaling $9,500; Bill Cheney, president Xerox FCU, 10contributions for $7,725; John Bommarito, Western FCU, sevencontributions for $6,500; Larry Sharpe, Arrowhead CU, sevencontributions for $5,550; and Jean Goodman, Toyota FCU, 10contributions for $3,950. Several other California CU execs wereamong the list of most active political contributors, includingMary Cunningham, USA FCU ($2,550); Barry Kane, Patelco CU($$2,650); Tom Graham, Kinecta FCU ($2,750); and Richard Cooper ofTelesis CU ($2,550).