From Michelle Flanigan's campaign website...

Michelle Flanigan for STRS Ohio Board
Reform Candidate for STRS Ohio Retirement Board

Endorsed by the Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association (ORTA), the STRS Ohio Watchdogs, and the Ohio STRS Member Only Forum! 

What are Michelle's goals as an STRS Ohio board member?

• For active teachers: Move the requirement for full retirement as close to 30 years as possible. Decrease the 65 years of age requirement for those teachers who attain full benefits by age rather than years of service. Move to less harsh, actuarially equalized penalties for those who wish to retire early. 

• For retirees: Restore a reasonable annual COLA that allows retirees an increase in purchasing power as quickly as possible. 

• For STRS administration: Look at streamlining the 500+ staff. Reduce unnecessary spending. Shift away from questionable, high-fee private equity investments. STRS exists to pay teacher benefits and this organization needs to refocus all efforts with that goal in mind. 

How does Michelle plan to achieve these goals?

• Begin by asking the actuaries to reexamine assumptions for rates of return, funding goals and timelines. Slight tweaks to these assumptions could free up funds for benefit restoration. 

• Look at other funds and states to provide examples of investment structures that give the greatest returns for the lowest cost and risk. There are options if you look for them. 

• Insist upon reductions in administrative expenses and eliminate spending that is not focused on providing teacher benefits.

Why should you vote for Michelle?

• For the past 15+ years the majority of Board members have voted to pay millions in bonuses and exorbitant salaries. Some STRS investment staff received 40+% raises this year while teachers are required to work longer and get less. This wasteful administrative spending runs three to four times higher than that of other states. 

• The majority of Board members haven’t explored lower cost investing strategies. Additionally, they have refused to consider reducing commercial real estate and private equity holdings. Many investment experts, including Warren Buffett, believe that private equity has no place in public pension funds. Missing out on bull market gains, combined with high fees on investments, are one of the reasons teachers work longer, pay more and get less. 

• While I appreciate the service of former Board members, I do not understand why, when so many teachers were unhappy, they continued to support the status quo at STRS. Are you happy with the current state of your pension fund and benefits? If your answer is “no”, please consider voting for me.

Who is Michelle Flanigan?

Michelle has worked as a Government, Economics and Financial Literacy teacher at Brunswick City Schools for the past 26 years. She worked as a financial analyst at American Greetings prior to becoming a teacher.

Michelle is currently a Moderator for the Ohio STRS Member Only Forum (MOF) on Facebook and a Group Expert for STRS Ohio Watchdogs Facebook group. She is an active member of the Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association (ORTA).

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys reading, traveling and riding her horse. She lives in Strongsville with her husband Sean. 

You can help Michelle get elected to the STRS Ohio Board

Michelle is running for a contributing (active) seat on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board. For that reason, ONLY ACTIVE TEACHERS can vote in this election in April 2024. 

• Click on this link to download and print the nomination petition for Michelle. 

• Click on this link to download and print the instructions for completing the nomination petitions. 

• Click on this link to print and share Michelle's campaign flyer with your colleagues. 

Michelle needs 500 signatures to be placed on the ballot, including 20 from 10 different counties. A good way to find out if Michelle needs signatures from your county is to visit the Ohio STRS Member Only Forum (MOF) and the STRS Ohio Watchdogs Facebook groups, where she will post campaign updates. The MOF is the best place to ask questons about Michelle's campaign.

Instructions for nomination petitions

1. Please print / sign clearly and legibly. Any entry that can’t be read or verified will be disqualified. 

2. Information will only be used to verify your account status with STRS 

3. Only actively teaching members can sign. Retirees can’t sign. 

4. Retired – rehired teachers cannot sign. 

5. Substitutes can sign only if they are not retired teachers. 

6. You are signing for the county where you are employed, not where you live.

This is NOT a vote. It is only a petition to put reform candidate Michelle Flanigan on the ballot.

Return the ORIGINAL petitions (copies will not be accepted) NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31st to either of the following addresses:

Michelle Flanigan

18233 Falling Leaves Road

Strongsville OH 44136

Robin Rayfield, Executive Director

Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association

250 East Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 150

Worthington OH 43085

See the rest of Michelle Flanigan's campaign website here.