Board certifies 2021 candidates

One of three seats up for election will be contested

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Aug. 16, 2021 – The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees has certified candidates in this year’s election for seats on the OPERS and Ohio Deferred Compensation boards.

This year the seats up for election are for county employees, miscellaneous employees and one of the two retiree seats. Elected trustees will serve four-year terms beginning Jan. 1.

Current trustee Tim Steitz is the only candidate to qualify for the retiree seat, so there will not be an election. Steitz will begin a new term on Jan. 1.

No candidates qualified for the miscellaneous employees seat. The Board will set the schedule and process for filling that vacancy at a later date.

Trustees certified two candidates for the county employees seat. OPERS will mail ballots and voting instructions on Aug. 24 to county employees eligible to vote in this election. All ballots must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office will verify the election results on Oct. 4, with final approval by the Board scheduled for Oct. 20.

The OPERS Board of Trustees consists of 11 members, and seven are elected. OPERS Board members are trustees of the system’s funds and are subject to strict fiduciary standards of conduct. The Board members must act solely in the best interests of all the participants and beneficiaries of the system.  

Michael Pramik

Michael Pramik is communication strategist for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and editor of the PERSpective blog. As an experienced business journalist, he clarifies complex pension policies and helps members make smart choices to secure their retirement.