Tom Curtis to Lara Baker: A big thanks

April 16, 2006

Hello Lara Baker, (Chief Legal Counsel)

I wish to congratulate you on being able to hold Ms. Sidaway responsible for two of the [original] seven counts against her. I am sure you were pressed to even get those two convictions, considering all of the excuses put forward to claim her harmless to her actions.

It is my hope that you and the criminal division will go forward with all of the remaining ethics indictments the OEC sent to your office.

Many of these people should also be facing criminal charges for failure of their fiduciary responsibility to the STRS membership. Fortunately for them, they full well know that we retirees do not have the financial backing to file such criminal charges. We have been told that would take one quarter to one-half million dollars to do. It does not seem right that people can waste our money as those at the STRS did for so many years and yet we have to find the money to hold them accountable for doing such.

Retirees are now paying the full bill for all of this misspending of our funds by those we entrusted with our retirement money. They wasted our funds and did not fund our health care stabilization fund properly, yet they are permitted to walk away barely unharmed financially. Whereas, many retirees are suffering financially right now and will for the rest of their lives.

I would think that after what you have learned from this trial, you can begin to understand why the STRS retirees are still so angry with past board members and many staff members. Their arrogance and feeling of entitlement went way beyond the norm and their abusive spending is inexcusable.

I could go on, but that would do little to help. I am sure from what you have learned, you can certainly get the big picture here.

In closing, I beg of you, please find the time to bring the remaining people into court and find for their guilt or innocence. Retirees need some closure concerning the huge misspending of our funds. We have had little notice until now. Thank you so much for doing your job and prosecuting those suspected of criminal activity. God bless you. May you have the strength and courage to continue your efforts concerning the STRS.

Sincerely,

Thomas Curtis,

STRS Retiree

CORE Advisory Committee Member