FLASHBACK-3 years ago An STRS election for an "active" and ORTA endorsed him!

Isn't it interesting that ORTA backed an "active" educator STRS Board candidate (John Lazares) three years ago BUT failed to endorse Dr. Leone (as a retiree candidate for STRS Board) in his bid just one year later? Guess they didn't feel it proper to endorse Dennis...but they did feel it proper to endorse Neil Johnson and Dave Speas, didn't they? Maybe they can explain that one as I surely can't. Maybe they also can explain why they haven't publicly supported the past two years of Dennis's STRS reform motions which are now in place as policy at STRS.......don't hold your breath in anticipation! John [Curry]

Ballots in the mail for STRS board seat contest

Canton Repository, April 1, 2004

By PAUL E. KOSTYU

Copley Columbus Bureau chief

COLUMBUS — Web sites have been set up, e-mail messages sent, mailboxes stuffed and endorsements sought in a grassroots election campaign that is connected to neither Democrats nor Republicans.

In this statewide campaign, there will be no hanging chads or electronic voting. Observed by the Secretary of State’s office and witnesses for the candidates, ballots will be counted by hand.

The campaign includes accusations of undue influence and concerns about voter fraud. Candidate qualifications have been questioned, and being the incumbent may not be a good thing.

More than 130,000 people want to influence the outcome, but will not be allowed to vote.

Such is the process for selecting a member to the board of the State Teachers Retirement System, the group that overseas a public pension fund worth millions.

In one of the most competitive races for the board in recent memory, incumbent and board chairman Eugene E. Norris of Columbus is opposed by John K. Lazares of Lebanon.

Ballots, half with Norris’ name first and the other half with Lazares’ name first, will be sent out today to 301,512 active members of the retirement system. Ballots are due at the retirement system by 4:30 p.m. May 3.

An elaborate security plan is intended to ensure the accuracy of the vote. A single ballot on special stock paper can be returned only in the envelope with a special security liner sent to each voter. The envelopes will be tracked but remain unopened as they are returned. A courier will bring them daily from the Columbus post office to the retirement system headquarters, where they will be locked in a room until they are counted May 8.

Damon Asbury, executive director of the retirement system, said there has never been a challenge to the process in the past. Because of concerns raised by Lazares supporters, however, he has added a second person to oversee the count and securing of ballots.

Norris has the backing of the state’s two major teacher unions, the Ohio Education Association and the Ohio Federation of Teachers.

Lazares has the backing of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, the largest organization representing retired members of the retirement system, and Concerned Ohio Retired Teachers, an activist group that split from the retirees association during last year’s turmoil about spending practices at the pension fund.

Retirees, who number about 135,000 retirement system members, cannot vote in the election under the rules for selecting the board. Only members who are “active” are allowed to vote because the position Norris and Lazares seek represents them.

That hasn’t kept retirees from helping out Lazares, who they say is needed on the board to protect their interests. They have been campaigning for him in all of Ohio’s 88 counties — contacting teachers, principals and superintendents at school, home and via e-mail.

They want Lazares to do the same thing with the pension fund that he is credited with doing for the Warren County Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities agency in 2000 and 2001, when it was wracked by allegations of lax financial and management practices — turn it around.

Both candidates have been speaking to groups across the state whenever they get the chance. But both said it’s next to impossible to campaign in every corner of Ohio.

Retirees want Norris replaced because of his link to board decisions that they say led to excessive spending, increases in health-care costs and reductions in their benefits.

Thomas J. Mooney, federation president, said the two candidates sparked “a lively discussion” at the union’s recent annual meeting. But he said Norris’ experience dealing with health-care issues became a critical factor in getting the union’s endorsement.

Mooney said Norris provided a “more constructive look at the future,” while Lazares dwelt on the past.

Norris and Lazares both claim they can best represent the needs of active and retired teachers, though neither has been a classroom teacher for years.

Both say they can restore confidence in a system that was shattered by revelations of spending on staff bonuses, artwork and a $100 million building while the pension fund’s portfolio plummeted. In the last year, the portfolio has rebounded significantly, changes in internal policies have been made and the system’s former executive director was replaced.

That’s not good enough for Lazares backers who have called on the entire board to be replaced.

When Canton teacher Hazel Sidaway retired last year, retirees got part of their wish with the selection of Robert S. Brown, an Ohio State University professor, as her replacement. Brown and Lazares both ran in the last election but lost to current board member Michael N. Billirakis, an official with the National Education Association.

You can reach Copley Columbus Bureau Chief Paul E. Kostyu at (614) 222-8901 or e-mail:

paul.kostyu@cantonrep.com

John K. Lazares

Current positions: Superintendent, Warren County Educational Services Center; Superintendent, Warren County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; Superintendent, Kings Local School District.

Previous positions: Assistant superintendent, high school and junior high school principal, and teacher.

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Miami (of Ohio) University 1974 and 1975.

Endorsements: Ohio Retired Teachers Association; Concerned Ohio Retired Teachers

Campaign Web site: None

Eugene E. Norris

Current position: Project coordinator for ESL Programs for South-Western City Schools.

Previous positions: Teacher-consultant on loan to the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Board of Regents; Spanish, English and social studies teacher, South-Western City Schools.

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Central State University, 1970; master’s degree Ohio State University, 1990.

Endorsements: Ohio Education Association; Ohio Federation of Teachers

Campaign Web site: http://www.norrisforstrs.com/