California Credit Unions Ready to Educate Gov.-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger

SACRAMENTO – The eclectic mix of candidates have gone home, the dust has settled and as California’s new Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger soundly defeats recalled Gov. Gray Davis, the California Credit Union League is ready to move forward in educating him and his new staff about the credit union distinction. “We need to educate (the new administration) about the credit union difference, about the tremendous benefits that credit unions bring to millions of California consumers, and about the importance of a well-staffed and independent state credit union regulator,” said Mark Lowe, CCUL public relations specialist. Lowe said “Gray Davis was a friend to credit unions during his tenure as governor, and supported many of our issues, but the goal now is to build an equally strong relationship with the new governor and his yet-to-be-named staff, and to encourage their support.” The CCUL posted links on its Web site that included an online voter registration form, a federal post card application for those living overseas or in the military and extensive information on candidates’ backgrounds and state initiatives. Meanwhile, the CCUL said it also “needs to apprise the new administration of the attacks upon credit unions from the banking industry, because there will certainly be more to come,” Lowe said. “The League will be charting a course of action, and we’ll be asking many of California’s credit union leaders to participate in this endeavor,” Lowe said.