Candidates certified for trustee election

Process yielded no races that will result in member or retiree voting

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Aug. 27, 2026 – The OPERS Board of Trustees certified the slate of candidates for this year’s trustees election at the August meeting. The qualification process yielded no competitive races that will result in member or retiree voting.

Four board positions are open for election this year. Three of those seats received only one qualifying submitted petition each: current trustee Russell Smith for the college/university employee seat, Daniel Sferra for the municipal employee seat; and current trustee Steve Toth for one of the two retiree seats.

According to Ohio law, the Board is not required to hold an election if only one candidate has been nominated for an elected position by petition. Thus, those three candidates will take office as if elected, for four-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

The other seat that was up for election this year, for state employees, received no qualified candidates. That means the seat will become vacant in January, and the trustees at that time will proceed with selecting a successor from the state employee group, according to Ohio law.

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.