PORAC ENDORSES HENRY JONES IN CALPERS RETIREE RUNOFF
ELECTION
Run-Off Slated for November 9-December 7, 2007
In September, more than 125,000 public employee retirees cast their
votes in the first contested election for the CalPERS Board of
Administration-Retiree Seat in more than 15 years.
PORAC’s endorsed candidate, Henry Jones, retired Chief Financial
Officer (CFO) for the nation’s second largest school district (LAUSD),
received approximately 45 percent of the overall vote while his
nearest opponent received only 34 percent. Following the election,
Jones received the endorsement of the third candidate in the race,
Susan Bergeron-Vance, who received nearly 22 percent of the votes
cast in the initial election.
Jones, who retired in 1998, was responsible for managing a $7
billion budget, overseeing the District’s investment practices and
managing the implementation of CalPERS and CalSTRS reporting
requirements for more than 90,000 employees. His extensive
experience in advising on pension fund issues includes having been
twice-elected as Treasurer of the Council of Institutional
Investors, a shareholder rights organization comprised of more than
100 public, labor and corporate pension funds with assets then
totaling more than $1 trillion.
“PORAC interviewed all candidates and unanimously endorsed Henry
Jones. He is the most qualified candidate for this election. His
breadth of experience and knowledge are extremely impressive and his
union roots in the Los Angeles Unified School District are still
strong. Jones will work to protect the rights, health care, and
benefits of all retirees while working to keep CalPERS the most
financially sound retirement system in the Nation.”, stated PORAC
President Ron Cottingham.
Jones who has received the endorsement of CallPERS Board President
Rob Feckner as well as CalPERS Board Members George Diehr, Priya
Sara Mathur and Mike Quevedo, Jr. has also received the endorsement
of organizations and labor unions representing more than 1 million
public employees and retirees.
Jones began his career as a union
janitor organizing for wage increases, health care and retirement
benefits for classified school workers. Jones serves as chairman of
the Schools Federal Credit Union board and has served as the CEO of
the Independent Annuity Reserve Fund which manages investment
portfolios for 7,000 teachers and administrators. A former Associate
Professor of Finance at California State University Los Angeles,
Jones holds a B.S. degree in Finance and Administration as well as a
certificate in pension fund investing from UC Berkeley.
Jones’ endorsers include:
CalPERS Board President Rob Feckner; CalPERS Board Member George
Diehr; CalPERS Board Member Priya Sara Mathur; CalPERS
Board Member Mike Quevedo, Jr.; AFSCME; Associated Administrators of
Los Angeles; Association of California School Administrators Retired
Chapter-Region 16; California Association of Highway Patrolmen;
California Association of School Business Officials; California
Faculty Association; California Professional Firefighters;
California School Employees Association; California State
University-Emeritus and Retired Faculty; California Association of
Professional Scientists; California Association of Psychiatric
Technicians; Los Angeles-Orange County Building and Construction
Trades Council; Los Angeles School Police Officers Association;
Peace Officers Research Association; Professional Engineers in
California Government; Retired Peace Officers Association of
California; Retired Public Employees Association; and, SEIU-State
Council.
The
run off election will take place via mail-in ballots between
November 9 and December 7, 2007.
For more information about Henry’s campaign,
please visit his website at
www.hjonesforcalpers.com
