January 2003

TPEA Endorse Bonita White for ERS Board of Trustees

Ms. White says her decision to seek the open trustee position “arises from concern about the challenges to employee benefits.”

TPEA is endorsing Bonita White of Austin in the upcoming ERS Board of Trustees election. Ms. White is the Director of the Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD) of TDCJ and has been in public service for 21 years. She has been endorsed by outgoing trustee Pam Carley and is a highly qualified, dedicated candidate.

Ms. White says her decision to seek the open trustee position "arises from concern about the challenges to employee benefits." TPEA asks all state employees and retirees to vote for Bonita White, the most qualified candidate for the ERS Board of Trustees.

Ms. White's Platform:

- Work to maintain affordable health insurance for state employees and retirees

- Ensure prudent investment of retirement funds and soundness of retirement system

- Advocate for state employees on ERS Board of Trustees

- Support retiree concerns for 13th check and ability to serve on Board of Trustees

Ms. White's Qualifications:

- Director of Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD) of Texas Department of Criminal Justice - the largest state agency in Texas; 21 years of public service

- Oversees 121 local community supervision and corrections departments (adult probation departments), supervising more than 440,000 adult probationers

- Oversees $700 million in state and local funds per biennium

- Master's degree in public administration from Angelo State University, bachelor's degree in sociology from Southwest Missouri State University, and a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Missouri.

According to the ERS website, a general election for the open ERS Member-Trustee position will be held starting January 10, 2003. The new Board member's term will run from September 1, 2003, through August 31, 2009, and will fill the vacancy of Pamela A. Carley, whose term will expire on August 31. Ballots will be mailed to voters' address of record. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Friday, February 21, 2003. If the winning candidate garners more than 50 percent of the vote, the election results will be certified at the April Board of Trustees meeting. Otherwise, a run-off election will be held in May. For more information, visit the ERS website at http://www.ers.state.tx.us/AboutERS/BoardElection03.htm.

Other Candidates:

Chris Mashburn
Captain, Director's Staff
Inspector, Office of Audit and Inspection
Texas Department of Public Safety

Yolanda "Yoly" Griego
Manager II
Program Manager, Texas Works
Texas Department of Human Services

Pauline Torres Null
Program Consultant III
Office of Program Integrity/Risk Assessment
Texas Department of Human Service