PERS Board Election Information
The election process has begun to fill three positions on the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees’ Retirement System; one State representative position, one Municipal representative position and the County representative position. Election notices were distributed in early-October to all employing locations with enrolled PERS-State members, PERS-Municipal members and PERS-County members. The Certifying Officer at each employing location is required to distribute this information to all eligible employees when the notice is received.
State Representative
Nominations are being accepted to fill one State representative position on the PERS Board of Trustees. A State representative will be elected for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2023. A member who wishes to be a candidate for the PERS State position must be an active or retired PERS-State member and must be nominated by at least 500 active PERS-State members. Only active PERS-State members may nominate a candidate for the PERS State position.
If you wish to declare your interest in running for this position, please send a written request by December 2, 2019, to the PERS Board Secretary at NJBOT.Nomination@treas.nj.gov or P.O. Box 295, Trenton, N.J., 08625-0295.
Nominations must be received online or arrive in the Board Office on or before 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020. If more than one State candidate receives 500 or more nominations, an election will be required. Election ballots will be mailed to PERS-State employers for distribution on or about March 30, 2020.
After candidates have declared their interest in becoming a PERS State representative, nominations to support a candidate are made primarily through a secure Web site. The process is easy and it only takes a few minutes to support the candidate of your choice. You just need to have access to a computer and log on to the Election-America State website and follow the simple directions. You will need to provide the last (4) digits of your social security number, the first (4) letters of your last name, and your birthdate. You will then see a list of all the candidates, and you can make your selection.
Municipal Representative
Nominations are being accepted to fill one Municipal representative position on the PERS Board of Trustees. A Municipal representative will be elected for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2023. A member who wishes to be a candidate for a PERS Municipal position must be an active or retired PERS-Municipal member and must be nominated by at least 300 active PERS-Municipal members. Only active PERS-Municipal members may nominate a candidate for the PERS Municipal position.
If you wish to declare your interest in running for this position, please send a written request by December 2, 2019, to the PERS Board Secretary at NJBOT.Nomination@treas.nj.gov or P.O. Box 295, Trenton, N.J., 08625-0295.
Nominations must be received online or arrive in the Board Office on or before 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020. If more than one Municipal candidate receives 300 or more nominations, an election will be required. Election ballots will be mailed to PERS-Municipal employers for distribution on or about March 30, 2020.
After candidates have declared their interest in becoming a PERS Municipal representative, nominations to support a candidate are made primarily through a secure Web site. The process is easy and it only takes a few minutes to support the candidate of your choice. You just need to have access to a computer and log on to Election-America Municipal website and follow the simple directions. You will need to provide the last (4) digits of your social security number, the first (4) letters of your last name, and your birthdate. You will then see a list of all the candidates, and you can make your selection.
County Representative
Nominations are being accepted to fill the County representative position on the PERS Board of Trustees. The County representative will be elected for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2023. A member who wishes to be a candidate for the PERS County position must be an active or retired PERS-County member and must be nominated by at least 500 active PERS-County members. Only active PERS-County members may nominate a candidate for the PERS County position.
If you wish to declare your interest in running for this position, please send a written request by December 2, 2019, to the PERS Board Secretary at NJBOT.Nomination@treas.nj.gov or P.O. Box 295, Trenton, N.J., 08625-0295.
Nominations must be received online or arrive in the Board Office on or before 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020. If more than one County candidate receives 500 or more nominations, an election will be required. Election ballots will be mailed to PERS-County employers for distribution on or about March 30, 2020.
After candidates have declared their interest in becoming a PERS County representative, nominations to support a candidate are made primarily through a secure Web site. The process is easy and it only takes a few minutes to support the candidate of your choice. You just need to have access to a computer and log on to Election-America County website and follow the simple directions. You will need to provide the last (4) digits of your social security number, the first (4) letters of your last name, and your birthdate. You will then see a list of all the candidates, and you can make your selection.
The general responsibility for the operation of the PERS is vested in the Board of Trustees under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 43:15A-17. The Board meets monthly at the Division of Pensions and Benefits in Trenton. The statute provides that no employee shall suffer loss of salary or wages because of serving on the Board.
After the candidates have declared their interest in becoming a PERS State, Municipal or County representative, nominations to support your choice for a candidate are made electronically through a secure web site. Please allow sufficient time after this notification for State, Municipal and County members to request candidacy and to have ample time for the vendor to enter the candidate’s name in the online system.
Present Members – Term
State Representatives: Thomas Bruno – 2022; Carey Brown – 2021; William O’Brien – 2020; County Representative: Tracy Smith – 2020; Municipal Representatives: Brian Currie – 2020; Benjamin “Max” Hurst – 2022; Gubernatorial Appointments: Ronald Winthers, One Vacant; State Treasurer’s Representative: Susanne Culliton, Ex-Officio Member
The general responsibility for the operation of the PERS is vested in the Board of Trustees under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 43:15A-17. The Board meets monthly at the Division of Pensions and Benefits in Trenton. The statute provides that no employee shall suffer loss of salary or wages because of serving on the Board.
PERS Board Responsibilities
- Render decisions regarding Disability Retirement cases.
- Review appeals pertaining to the denial of certain pension benefits.
- Adopt rules and regulations to provide for the payment of benefits and collection of monies as required by statute.
- Establish rules and regulations within the limitations of statutes and opinions of the Courts and the Attorney General, designed to prevent injustices and inequities that may arise in the operation of the Retirement System.
- Resolve individual questions and appeals on the merits of each case in terms of statutes, opinions of the Attorney General, advice of the Actuary and cases cited by counsel as deliberated by the Courts.
- View monthly and annual reports setting forth data such as assets and liabilities, income and disbursements, and statistical summarization of membership as documented by the Actuary.
- View monthly and annual reports setting forth data such as assets and liabilities, income and disbursements, and statistical summarization of membership as documented by the Actuary.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey