ORTA Weekly Update - February 22, 2026: ...if the Ohio Legislature had been responsibly funding our pension, our Board would never have been put in the position of trying to make up the funding gap.

ORTA Weekly Update - February 22, 2026

By Dean Dennis

As you are probably aware, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Karen Held Phipps rendered her decision in the Wade Steen and Dr. Rudy Fichtenbaum case. The decision was that both breached their fiduciary responsibilities and are prohibited from serving on the STRS Board. This ruling means that Dr. Rudy Fichtenbaum is immediately removed from the Board and that Wade Steen can never be appointed to the Board. This decision is appealable. The decision on whether or not to appeal will be at the discretion of Wade, Rudy, and their attorneys.

ORTA stands by Rudy Fichtenbaum and Wade Steen. Many of our members know the character of these gentlemen and their intention to improve our pension system for STRS members. We believe they were trying their best to restore lost benefits responsibly. To be blunt, if the Ohio Legislature had been responsibly funding our pension, our Board would never have been put in the position of trying to make up the funding gap.

Going forward, ORTA’s Executive Council will hold an emergency meeting this week to assess the unexpected court ruling and develop a plan. We’ll send you an update next weekend, or sooner.

Lastly, a thank you to our members for responding to help Liz Jones acquire the needed signatures to appear on the STRS Board ballot.

Thank you,

Dean Dennis, Chair

ORTA Executive Council