We did it before, we will do it again - FLASHBACK TO AN UPSET!

A history lesson for newbies: What OEA doesn't want you to know

Note from John Curry - Considering the upcoming STRS election, I want to relive some history in which CORE members were instrumental in a previous STRS election victory. For some of you new CORE members and/or readers of Kathie Bracy's blog, this article may come as a surprise to you. The retired members of CORE (yes, actives can and are encouraged to join CORE) "pounded the bricks" and caused an upset in this 2004 STRS election for an "active" teacher member of STRS even though retirees COULDN'T VOTE FOR THE VICTORIOUS CANDIDATE, JOHN LAZARES. You are now seeing the results of that upset at STRS in the form of REFORM on the CURRENT STRS BOARD as John has teamed with Dennis Leone.

Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 8:33 AM

Subject: Eugene didn't call back, Gary sideskirts issue

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Teachers remove pension panel chief

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Stephen Ohlemacher,

Plain Dealer Bureau

Columbus - Ohio teachers have voted to oust the chairman of the State Teachers Retirement System board in the latest fall-out from last year's scandal over lavish spending at the pension fund.

Chairman Eugene Norris was defeated by John Lazares, superintendent of the Warren County Educational Service Center, 22,625 to 22,351. The vote among teachers, professors and other members of the retirement system was done by mail. Lazares will begin a four-year term in September.

The vote was a big victory for disgruntled retirees, who supported Lazares, even though they could not vote in the election.

It was a big loss for the state teachers unions, which supported Norris. Endorsements by the Ohio Education Association, the state's largest teacher union, usually mean victory for STRS board candidates.

"It kind of shocked me," said Lazares, who also serves as superintendent of the Warren County mental retardation/developmental disability board, and the Warren County alternative school for at-risk students just northeast of Cincinnati.

"I've got to give the retired teachers a lot of credit," he said.

Norris, a teacher in South-Western City Schools in suburban Columbus, has served on the board since 1996. He took over as chairman in September. Norris did not return a phone call Monday seeking comment.

The pension fund, which serves more than 400,000 active and retired teachers, was wracked by scandal last year after The Plain Dealer published a story about generous employee bonuses, frequent board member travel and expensive artwork at the pension fund's headquarters.

The revelations came as many retirees learned that their health insurance premiums would soon double, in part because of the fund's investment losses.

Since then, Herb Dyer was forced to resign as executive director - with a $550,000 buyout. Also, the board enacted new travel, ethics and employee bonus policies, and the Ohio House and Senate approved competing bills to increase oversight. Lawmakers are working on a compromise.

Lazares, 54, worked with Chillicothe schools Superintendent Dennis Leone to expose much of the questionable spending. That generated a lot of support among retirees, who waged an aggressive Internet campaign on Lazares' behalf.

"I think this was a statement of sorts by the voting membership," Leone said. "And clearly the retirees had a huge impact in making this happen."

OEA President Gary Allen has publicly supported the STRS board, which includes several OEA members, throughout the scandal. Allen said he thought some teachers voted to change leadership because they are concerned about increasing health care costs.

"But replacing Eugene Norris is not going to change the fact that there is still a national health care crisis," Allen said.

The STRS board has nine members: five teachers elected by other contributing members; one retiree elected by other retirees; and designees appointed by the state auditor, state attorney general and state superintendent of public instruction.

Lazares qualified to run as a teacher because, as a superintendent, he is a contributing member of the retirement system.