Tom Curtis re: Why would OEA want to control the STRS Board?

Tom Curtis to Ralph Roshong, March 15, 2008
Subject: Re Why Would The OEA Want To Control The STRS Board?

Thank you Ralph,

I passed your comments along to John Curry, who composed that information, which Dan Vincent embraces.

Thank you as well for taking the time to address the STRS board in the past. I hope you received some feedback for your efforts, but I doubt you did.

Most all of our elected board members do not feel they need to be accountable to those that disagree with their lack of oversight. It appears that the board is headed right back to where it was in 2003, when 5 of the 9 board members came directly from the OEA executive committee and controlled everything. That is not healthy and should not occur.

I became active in the reform process at the same time Dr. Dennis Leone's historic paper presented to the board in May 2003, became public knowledge.

Many retirees organized and became CORE. We made a difference. We helped to force out the corrupt executive director and board of that time, all of which were found guilty of wrong-doing by the courts.

Since that time, the OEA/OFT have fought back with huge sums of money and influenced the naive and uninformed active population in this state to elect their representatives once again.

Once John Lazares (this year) and Dennis Leone exhaust their terms (next year), the unions may once again hold all of the elected board seats. If this takes place, our efforts will be in vain.

I beg you to please attempt to contact any and all other superintendents and members of the STRS you might care to help influence to vote for the non-OEA affiliate candidate, Dan Vincent. I have attached an informational sheet about him. You are welcome to send it along to anyone you desire. Dan is willing to speak to most any educational group he can schedule.

Thank you for your sincere efforts and support,

Thomas Curtis
CORE member

From Ralph Roshong, March 13, 2008
Subject: Re: Why Would The OEA Want To Control The STRS Board?

Well written and extremely on target. I have forwarded it to all on my email list. Thank you for the enlightenment so aptly written.

Ralph Roshong
Retired Superintendent