CA: Nine seek seats on CalPERS board // Pension official's woes (Sac Bee 2-FeR)

Sac Bee ^ | 10/1/05 | Gilbert Chan

[NormsRevenge]

Nine seek seats on CalPERS board

http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/13651572p-14493894c.html

(EXCERPT)

Nine candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for a pair of at-large seats on the 13-member governing board of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the nation's largest public pension fund. The open seats are for four-year terms starting in mid-January.

Overall, six of the 13 trustees are elected by members. The governor appoints two representatives. The Assembly speaker and Senate Rules Committee jointly name one trustee, and the state Personnel Board selects one. The state treasurer, controller and director of the Department of Personnel Administration also serve on the board overseeing the $190 billion fund.

Of ballots sent to the 1.4 million CalPERS members, just 191,121 had been returned by Friday. Unofficial results are expected to be posted online in mid-October.

--snip--

Incumbent Charles Valdes faces five challengers: Robert D. Walton, assistant executive officer at CalPERS; Sa'ad Issa, a state transportation engineer; Mark Matthew Henderson, an attorney for the State Compensation Insurance Fund; Gary G. Fowler, a retired Highway Patrol officer; and Paul L. Rouzer, a state correctional officer.

The other incumbent, Kurato Shimada, is running against two candidates: Stephen L. Lichtenberger, a state programmer analyst for the Department of Mental Health; and Katie M. Greene, a retired registered nurse practitioner with Riverside County.

[NormsRevenge]

Pension official's woes
CalPERS board member, seeking re-election, has twice been in bankruptcy.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/story/13651571p-14493893c.html

(EXCERPT)

Charles Valdes has been so mired in debt that he twice failed to complete repayment plans ordered by the bankruptcy court.

His precarious personal finances, however, likely will not keep Valdes from winning re-election to a sixth four-year term on the board of the nation's largest public pension fund, the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

By Monday, some 1.4 million CalPERS members - from college professors to city park groundskeepers - must mail in ballots with their choices for the pension fund's 13-member board.

Valdes, who has five challengers, has secured key labor endorsements. He handily won re-election eight years ago in the face of reports in The Bee of his personal bankruptcies.

Recently contacted in person and by letter, Valdes declined to be interviewed for this article. In 1997, he told The Bee, "I'm not trying to run away from my debts."

--snip--

Too bad he didn't try and runaway from the free lunches instead of being first in line at the paid for buffet.

[NormsRevenge]

Pingaroo


SW, when ya running for CalPERS? ;-)

[EagleUSA]

Just another product of government and corporate pandering to unions. GM failed. Airlines are failing. Automotive industry parts suppliers are failing. The state of California is a socialist tax-and-spend cesspool that is on its way to failing....

-- all for the same reason. The building of union welfare states at the expense of the taxpayer or consumer. When will these fools ever learn? Maybe never, until they are stopped cold.

[telebob]

I've seen the candidates list and read their blurbs. They're all stiffs. Doesn't matter if you vote for an incumbent or challenger, it's the SOS.

[SmithL]

Your tax dollars at work and play.

[SierraWasp]

I'm not running FOR anything, rather AWAY from a lot of things!!! Don't forget... I'ma RECOVERING politician! (12 step program and all that) Actually, I never was a politician because they git RE-elected, don'tcha know?

Who'd wanna serve on that thing with Willie Brown, anaways? I guess he and I could whisper Ebonics to each other all during the Bored Meetings!!! If'n ya wants ta see Willie... all ya gotta dew is watch Channel 4 KRON at 9:30 on Sunday nights with Phil Matier!!!

[Grampa Dave]

"Charles Valdes has been so mired in debt that he twice failed to complete repayment plans ordered by the bankruptcy court."

He looks and sounds like a perfect candidate for this board of misfits and criminals.