The PERS Coalition has reached out to us to find a replacement for a "neutral" board member who has to step down due to illness. The position is currently open, and immediate action is needed. These are critical appointments to the PERS system. We have been contacted because we were successful in nominating someone to the PERS Board in 2011.
The specific statute requires that these three members have experience in business management, pension management or investing (personal investing experience is fine). They can not be (now, or ever have been) a member of the Public Employees Retirement System or a beneficiary of a member of the system, and may not have any interest in benefits provided by the system. This means they can not be an employee of a PERS agency. Portland State University is a PERS agency so we can not nominate anyone who works here.
We are most interested in finding someone who can be member oriented; someone who can keep the board focused on the benefits PERS provides to real people, both active employees and retirees. To garner the Governor's support, the members must be of high integrity, have a clean background, be willing to work with the Governor in her vision for the future of PERS as a defined benefit system. They must also be able to be confirmed by the Senate (though this is usually not an issue in Oregon). Nominees must be US residents and Oregon residents for at least two years preceding the appointment. The term of appointment is 2-3 years. This is a citizen volunteer position and is unpaid. Expense reimbursement is provided.
I would be happy to talk with you or your nominee to explain the position and the Governor's expectations. Detailed information about the appointment process and PERS can be found at: The Gubernatorial Executive Appointment Webpage, The Oregon Boards and Commissions Book, and PERS Board website.
If you know of someone who meets the criteria who is interested and ready to proceed, could you please encourage them to fill out the Executive Appointments Interest Form, print it out and physically sign it and send it to me. The best way to proceed is if PSU-AAUP can present the individual as a nominee. The nominee can also self nominate; they can fax the signed form to 503.373.0840; the scanned form can be emailed to executive.appointments@oregon.gov, or the form can be mailed to Governor's address below.
Office of the Governor
Executive Appointments
900 Court Street NE, Room 160
Salem, OR 97301-4075
Time is of the essence. The interest forms need to be turned in as soon as possible.
Thanks for your help. I look forward to hearing from you and/or your nominee.
Phil Lesch
Executive Director
PSU-AAUP
"Promoting Quality Education - An Investment in Oregon's Future"