WASHINGTON – At least one candidate is believed to have been interviewed by the White House for the impending vacancy on the NCUA Board, Carla Decker, the president of Washington’s District Government Employees FCU, according to several sources.
Decker, who has headed the $50 million credit union since 2001 and has been active in the Latino CU Network and CUNA’s Hispanic Outreach Connection, appears to be the front runner for the NCUA seat, now occupied by Gigi Hyland.
She did not return phone calls seeking comment from the Credit Union Journal.
Despite restrictions on more than one person on the three-member NCUA Board coming from the industry, the panel has become somewhat of a revolving door among credit union operatives. Hyland is the former general counsel of Members United Corporate FCU and was chief lobbyist for the corporate credit unions before her six-year term. NCUA Chairman Debbie Matz served more than five years on the NCUA Board before going to work as an executive with Andrews FCU, then coming back to the Board. And Michael Fryzell is a former attorney for dozens of credit unions.
Several rumored candidates have denied interest in the job. Gary Oakland, the long-time president of BECU, denied rumors he has interviewed with the White House and insisted through a spokesman he is not interested. Dan Mica, who retired as CUNA President and the industry’s top lobbyist last year, also denied rumors of his interest, despite, what he insisted were entreaties from lawmakers of both parties.
