WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that a housing advocate and Miami Valley leader has been named to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Consumer Advisory Board. Brown urged the CFPB to select Jim McCarthy, president and CEO of the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center (MVFHC), to serve on the 25-person panel that will advise the CFPB on a broad range of consumer financial issues and emerging market trends.

“Jim has been on the frontline of the battle against foreclosures, working to keep families in their homes and fighting predatory lending practices that hit the Dayton area especially hard,” Brown said. “Ohioans and Americans are lucky to have a smart, experienced, and dedicated advocate working for them. I look forward to continuing to work with Jim to strengthen Ohio’s housing market.”

McCarthy, who currently lives in Dayton, attended the University of Cincinnati and Wright State University. He is a board member of the Dayton Fund for Home Rehabilitation, the Montgomery County Housing Advisory Board, and a member of the American Society of Public Administrators. In addition, McCarthy is also the Second Vice Chair of the National Fair Housing Alliance based in Washington, DC.

The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act directed the CFPB to establish a Consumer Advisory Board to advise and consult with the Bureau’s director on a variety of consumer financial issues. The newly-appointed board members include experts in consumer protection, financial services, community development, fair lending and civil rights, and consumer financial products or services. They also represent depository institutions that primarily serve underserved communities, and they represent communities that have been significantly impacted by higher-priced mortgage loans. The first meeting of the Consumer Advisory Board will take place on Sept. 27 and 28.

###