A changing of the guard

changing of the guard quietly occurred in CUNA's Washington office during the past couple of months. Chuck Zuver retired, and Carl Parks has replaced him.

Most of you are familiar with Zuver, CUNA's executive vice president of governmental affairs. For the past 10 years, he has successfully navigated CUNA's political agenda through some pretty turbulent waters. He would often tell his staff that preventing something from happening was just as important-and just as difficult-as getting legislation passed. Obviously, he's had some success. Credit unions are still tax exempt. And bankers have been unable to convince Congress to handcuff credit unions with the burdensome Community Reinvestment Act.

A student of American politics, Zuver would often regale listeners with tales of past presidential administrations. He sometimes spoke of spending his golden years in the Library of Congress doing research. Once called one of Washington's most influential insiders by American Banker newspaper, Zuver may have retired, but consulting work will keep his political juices flowing. And between visits to Capitol Hill, there will always be time for a sojourn to the marvelous golf courses of Ireland.

Carl Parks is a name and face you're likely to see on these pages often in the years ahead. He comes to CUNA with a host of credentials, most recently as the congressional and public affairs liaison for the Republican National Committee (RNC). Parks served as RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson's primary contact with members of the U.S. House and Senate, Republican governors, and their key staff. His contacts will undoubtedly serve credit unions well.

Parks also brings some special skills in tax and budget issues from his job as legal counsel for U.S. Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga. Prior to that, Parks was the tax and budget counsel for Citizens for a Sound Economy-a national grass-roots free-market group.

And he's no stranger to the corporate world. Parks served as senior legislative counsel for Sears' corporate governmental affairs and as legislative counsel for the Allstate Insurance Co.

There's been a changing of the guard in CUNA's governmental affairs division, but it's clear the guard remains strong and vigilant.

-James A. Hanson, editorial director

Copyright Credit Union National Association, Inc. Mar 1998
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