Meet the ERS Board of Trustees candidates May 11 — then vote! (state agencies only)

In April, the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) certified five candidates to run for the ERS Board of Trustees position currently held by Catherine Melvin of the Department of Public Safety. The certified candidates are listed below in randomly drawn ballot order. 

• James (Jimmy) Jackson, Retiree
• Suzy Whittenton, Retiree
• Stuart Greenfield, Retiree
• Chris Nelson, Texas Workforce Commission
• Ilesa Daniels, Retiree

We encourage you to visit our Board election webpage to read each candidate’s personal statement about why they want to serve on the ERS Board. Note: Statements were limited to 250 words and appear exactly as the candidates submitted them.

Attend or view the candidate forum May 11

ERS will host a forum so you can hear from the candidates directly. Each candidate will provide an opening statement and answer questions about their position on issues related to pension, insurance and other ERS-administered benefits. You can send questions for the candidates to ERSelection@ers.texas.gov by May 8. We will ask the candidates as many questions as time permits during the forum.

• What: Candidate forum for the 2023 ERS Board of Trustees election
• When: Thursday, May 11, 12:30 – 2 p.m. CT
  • Note: The forum could end earlier, but will not go past 2 p.m.
• Where: 1836 San Jacinto, Austin, TX 78701; 9th floor conference center

Can’t attend in person? ERS will provide a recording of the forum on the Board election webpage throughout the entire voting period, May 12 – June 16.

Who can vote?

Texas agency employees who have an ERS account balance as of Jan. 31, 2023, and retirees who are receiving an annuity from ERS can vote in the ERS Board of Trustees election.

How to vote

In early May, ERS will mail eligible voters a paper ballot and instructions for convenient, secure and cost-efficient electronic voting. The election packet will also include information about the candidates, and the roles and responsibilities of ERS trustees. To vote electronically, you will be able to visit the voting portal at ERSTXvotes.com or go to the ERS website and click the “VOTE” link on the top center of the page.

Remember: You can vote by paper ballot OR electronically. Do not submit a paper ballot AND vote electronically. ERS will only count the first vote from you that we receive.

ERS will certify the results of the election on July 20. The new Board member’s term will begin Sept. 1, 2023.

In addition to the election packet, we’ll provide more information about the election and the candidates in upcoming issues of News About Your Benefits and on our Board election webpage.