Texas Races Get CU Flavor

AUSTIN, Texas - (08/30/04) -- The scrum over the state'scongressional races caused by the controversial redistricting hasbrought credit union executives into the campaigns in a big way.Credit union executives and political action committees havecontributed more than $200,000 to the state's 32 House races sofar, according to Federal Election Commission Reports reviewed byThe Credit Union Journal. That vast majority of that wascontributed by CUNA's political action committee ($125,000), butalso by PACs for NAFCU, OmniAmerican CU and Security Service FCU.FEC records also show that credit union executives made 43contributions over $200 for a total of almost $50,000 to Texasraces. The congressional races have attracted more attention thanany other state's because the Republican-drawn redistricting isexpected to result in the Republicans picking up as many as sevennew seats. The biggest recipient of credit union largesse has beenRepublican State Rep. Kenny Marchant, the sponsor of last year'scredit union reform bill, who has received almost $20,000 in creditunion contributions. The most active individual contributors are:Gary Base, president, Community CU, eight contributions for a totalof $4,250; John Tippets, president, American Airlines EmployeesFCU, six contributions for $1,825; Robert Rogers, president, EECU,four contributions for $2,000; and Jennifer Edwards, anOmniAmerican CU executive who gave $5,000 in three contributions tothe credit union's PAC.