AUSTIN, Texas–Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited the Cornerstone Credit Union League office for an invitation-only presentation of funds raised by TCCUL PAC contributors, which will go toward his reelection campaign.
According to the league, Cornerstone invited board members, PAC trustees, and members of the Government Affairs Committee, including representatives from Baylor Health Care System CU, Caprock FCU, First Service CU, Randolph-Brooks FCU, South Texas FCU, Tarrant County’s CU, Texans CU, Texas Trust CU, and Texas Credit Union Association.
The league further reported Cornerstone Chairman James Boyd made introductions, including David Bleazard and Steve Gilman of First Service and Jim Minge of Texas Trust, all of whom Abbott had appointed to the Texas Credit Union Commission.
Governor Has Challenge
The CCUL added that Abbott challenged the room to share with him a two-minute update on what’s going on in the credit union movement, saying “I like to leave a room more informed than before.”
Cornerstone EVP and Chief Advocacy Officer Jim Phelps briefed the governor on credit unions’ tax status and desire to operate in a “fair, reasonable regulatory environment,” according to the CCUL.
“We don’t want to be subject to bad regulation,” said Phelps. “We just want to serve our members.”
‘Help Us Keep Doing That’
The league said a brief Q&A session ensued, which gave way to productive discussions regarding Project Zip Code, economic development opportunities through the Texas ports, and investment zones. The conversation ended with a request for the governor’s support.
“Our boards of directors are volunteers who collaborate to hire our CEOs to run credit unions,” Bleazard told Abbott. “Our mantra is, ‘not for profit, not for charity, but for service.’ You see we’re doing great things. Help us keep doing that.”
“You got it,” Abbott responded, according to the league.