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Pension Payment CalendarCheck mailed September 28, 2024Direct deposit September 30, 2024

Upcoming Election 2024 - KCERA Board of Retirement Certified List of Candidates

On September 17, 2024,  an election will be held for the Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA) Board of Retirement for terms of office ending December 31. The following Trustees will be elected:

  • Second Member (General)
  • Seventh Member (Safety)
  • Alternate Seventh Member (Safety)

Certified List of Candidates:

Second General Member

  • Travis Andreas, Deputy CEO
  • Ajaib Gill, Deputy Public Defender
  • Juan Gonzalez Ramos, Incumbent
  • Audel Contreras, County Planner

Alternate Seventh Safety Member

(To be included after the write-in period)

Since only one safety candidate filed nomination papers, no election will be held for the Seventh Safety Member seat and that member will be appointed in lieu of election. An election will be held for the Alternate Seventh Safety Member seat, if an eligible candidate timely files as a Write-in Candidate. The write-in period for the Alternate Seventh Safety Member is 8/8/2024 - 9/3/2024.

The election will be conducted by mail.

  • Ballots and ballot return envelopes will be mailed no later than Monday. September 2, to all members of KCERA eligible to vote.
  • Voted ballots must be received at the Elections Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 17, in order to be counted in the election.
  • The vote will be canvassed in the Elections Division, Administrative Center, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, commencing at 8:00 a.m. on September 19.
Adult woman dropping a voting ballot into a ballot box with American flags behind her

Further information regarding nominations and/or election procedures may be obtained by contacting the Elections Division at (661) 868-3590. Information regarding the election, including election results, will be posted on the KCERA website at www.kcera.org.

 

What's it like to be a KCERA Board Trustee? See details and requirements below.

Trustee Requirements. KCERA's Board of Retirement is the exclusive governing and policy-making body of KCERA. It's primary mandate is to provide KCERA members with retirement benefits promised by their employers (i.e., KCERA's Plan Sponsors). The Boards Key Roles: Setting policy and establishing guidelines for KCERA's efficient opporation. Pension asset management- Control the investment of pension assets. Service provider selection. Chose external professional service providers. Staff Recruitment- Hire executive staff to lead KCERA. Disability Retirement- rile on disability retirement applications. Fund disbursement-authorize the disbursement of funds. Contribution Rates and Actuarial assumptions- Adopt rates and assumptions. Benefits' administration- administer retirement benefits effectively and lawfully. Time requirements- Attend monthly board meetings. Attend committee meetings as assigned. review agenda material prior to meetings. attend conferences to fulfill training requirements. The Board is comprised of: The Kern County treasurer-tax collector. Four appointed members from the Kern County Board of Supervisors. Four elected Members from the KCERA membership, which includes one safety and one general members. Two alternate members, one each elected by safety and retired members. Educational requirements: trustees are required to undergo a minimum of 24 hours of trustee education within the first two years of assuming office and for every subsequent two year period the trustee continues to hold office on the board. Mandated training topics: Ethics, sexual harassment, New trustee orientation. Additional trining topics include: fiduciary responsablilities, investments and investment programs, manage actuarial matters and pension governance. for additional questions email administration@kcera.org or call 661-381-7754
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