STRS FLASHBACK - 6 YEARS AGO - STRS Board Campaign and Election Oversight?

From John Curry, October 24, 2009

Campaign and election oversight? ....naw...we don't need it!

“What in God’s name could be wrong with overseeing elections of these boards?” Sen. Dan Brady, D-Cleveland, asked Collins."
“All we’re talking about is writing down the names of persons who give money and where they spend it,” (Senator) Jacobson countered. “Don’t you think the public would be interested in whether someone is getting a large sum of money from an investment company who makes money off the pension system?”
“Yes,” Johnson (OFT) answered.
“Then how can you find out without disclosure?” Jacobson said.

Canton Repository, October 22, 2003
Unions rail on oversight of pension-board elections

By PAUL E. KOSTYU
Copley Columbus Bureau chief

COLUMBUS — Representatives of two unions said they don’t want Ohio’s secretary of state overseeing election of members to the state’s five public pension boards.

And they don’t think candidates for board positions should have to file reports showing who is contributing to their campaigns for spots on the boards.

But Sen. Lynn R. Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, said those measures will remain in Senate Bill 133, a bill addressing reform of the pension systems.

“The integrity of the elections is essential,” Wachtmann said, following the third hearing of his bill Tuesday before the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee, which he chairs.

“There are not appropriate safeguards now,” he said. “This is hugely important.”

John Irvine, a representative of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, testified that a campaign for election to the board of the State Teachers Retirement System costs $20,000 to $50,000. He said his organization backs having the secretary of state oversee the elections.

On the other hand, Darold Johnson of the Ohio Federation of Teachers and Chris Collins of the Service Employees International Union opposed the election oversight provision.

“What in God’s name could be wrong with overseeing elections of these boards?” Sen. Dan Brady, D-Cleveland, asked Collins.

Collins responded that the union is not against “transparent” elections, but he said the election process was not a factor that led to recent media revelations about spending at the pension systems.

“We don’t want to dissuade people from volunteering” to participate as board members, he said.

Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Vandalia, said the legislation would not require a standard higher than that expected of people who run for public office.

Johnson said legislation goes beyond the current scope of duties of the secretary of state. “The elections haven’t led to abuse,” he said.

“I have little sympathy for a position that doesn’t protect members,” Brady said.

Johnson said that those who run for pension board seats are not “seasoned politicians familiar with campaign laws. It might be intimidating.”

“All we’re talking about is writing down the names of persons who give money and where they spend it,” Jacobson countered. “Don’t you think the public would be interested in whether someone is getting a large sum of money from an investment company who makes money off the pension system?”

“Yes,” Johnson answered.

“Then how can you find out without disclosure?” Jacobson said.

Johnson said the election winner could fill out a financial disclosure report just as all board members would under the provisions of SB 133.

But Jacobson said that wasn’t good enough. He suggested the unions rethink their opposition to that provision in the bill.

“Let’s let everyone know” where the money is coming from, he said.

Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell backs the election provisions, said his spokesman Carlo LoParo, “because it brings necessary transparency to the process.”

He said revealing campaign contributions allows pension system members to “better understand who’s contributing to and who’s influencing” the elections.

“It’s consistent with corporate reform and helps establish true independence,” LoParo said.

He also said Blackwell’s office already supervises elections for the Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund at its request and could do so with the other systems should the Legislature require it.