As we move into November, it’s clear that election season has begun. The DSA’s Political Action Committee has been hard at work interviewing candidates and recommending endorsements to our board for several months.
In the weeks and months ahead, we will start to see more political advertising in every forum imaginable, as candidates try to move the needle ahead of the March primaries. Before that chaos begins, there is another election I’d like to address that is of smaller scale but, I believe, equal importance.
I’m referring to the election for an open seat on the SDCERA retirement board. I know it doesn’t sound sexy, but I wanted to dedicate some space in our magazine to why an SDCERA board seat should be important to you, and why you should support the only deputy vying to be our next representative for the open public safety seat.
We all know that SDCERA is the organization that administers our pension benefits. Depending on a deputy’s hire date, they are guaranteed a certain pension amount to be paid for the rest of their life. That amount is variable based on a few factors, such as years of service and age at retirement. And that guarantee is only assured because of SDCERA’s ability to meet their obligations and expectations.
SDCERA invests the money that employees and the county pay into the system, and SDCERA expects a certain level of return on those investments so that they can continue to pay all current and future retirees. If SDCERA is unable to meet expected returns, it creates uncertainty for the future. (This is an extremely simplified version of how they protect and administer our $12.9 billion, but I hope you’re getting the point.)
SDCERA has several full-time employees, including CEO David Wescoe. From the DSA’s perspective, Mr. Wescoe has been a terrific addition to SDCERA. In our meetings, Mr. Wescoe has always presented himself as someone who is intelligent, dedicated, and deeply cares about protecting the pension system so that everyone who is eligible will benefit. He takes time out of his schedule to personally address our deputies and answer questions at our retirement seminars, and he’s made the office available for any questions or concerns the DSA has.
While Mr. Wescoe is steering our $12.9 billion ship, the organization is still governed by nine elected officials. According to the SDCERA website, “the board of retirement is SDCERA’s governing body with exclusive control and fiduciary responsibility for benefit administration and investment management of the Trust Fund for the exclusive benefit of members and beneficiaries.”
For many years, former deputy Dave Myers was a representative on the SDCERA board in one of the public safety seats. Dave did an admirable job during his time on the SDCERA board and made sure to keep the DSA and any interested members informed of relevant issues. Dave’s presence on the SDCERA board was an asset that has been recognized even more in the time since his retirement. We no longer have a deputy sheriff representing us on that board, but we now have an opportunity to add one.
This month, each deputy will receive a ballot to elect a representative to the SDCERA board. That ballot will come to your work station, rather than to your home. When you open the ballot, you may notice a familiar name: our very own Lieutenant Dave Gilmore. Lt. Gilmore would be a great addition to the SDCERA board, and I’m confident he would be a terrific representative for all of us. When Dave met with the DSA board last month, our meeting only confirmed that fact, and the board chose to give him our strongest endorsement. Later in the magazine, you will see an article from Dave explaining his desire and qualifications for being on the SDCERA board.
It may not always seem like it, but these issues matter greatly. Dave Gilmore recognizes that, and I hope our members do as well. Please take a few moments to submit your ballot to help Lt. Gilmore get onto our retirement board and be our voice.