Consolidated Retirement Board Election
The County of Marin Elections Department is conducting an election to fill the vacancy in the Third General Member position on the MCERA Board of Retirement.
This is a consolidation of two elections: 1) the Special Election to complete the current term of office, which expires October 31, 2023; and 2) the regular election for the next three-year term, which Begins November 1, 2023. The elected candidate will assume the vacant Third Member seat immediately to complete the current term and will also serve a new three-year term that expires October 31, 2026.
If you are an active MCERA member in a General retirement tier and would like to participate in the governance and oversight of MCERA and contribute to the system's administration and investment of its assets, you are encouraged to seek office for the Third General Member position.
Any questions you have about the position should be directed to MCERA at MCERABoard@marincounty.org. Any questions regarding the election process or the procedure for filing nomination petitions should be directed to Elections Department representative Dan Miller at DanMiller@marincounty.org.
About the Election
Election Schedule
| Date |
Election Milestone |
| March 29, 2023 |
Nomination petitions for candidates will be available from the Elections Department beginning at 8:00 AM. |
| April 19, 2023 |
The deadline for filing signed nomination petitions with the Elections Department is 4:30 PM. |
| April 28, 2023 |
If there is more than one candidate for the position, ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters by this date. |
| May 26, 2023 |
The deadline to submit voted ballots to the Elections Department is 4:30 PM. |
Eligibility
Candidates for the Third General Member position on the Board of Retirement must be active General members working for one of MCERA’s participating employers.
Nomination
Nomination petitions may be obtained from the Elections Department beginning at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Petitions must be signed by at least ten active General MCERA members and filed with the Elections Department by 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
In the event there is only one nominee for the position, no election will be held and the nominee shall be declared elected.
Candidate's Statement
Candidates who wish to submit a statement of their qualifications for office may do so at the time of filing their nomination. The statement may include the name, age and occupation of the candidate and a brief description, no more than 200 words in length, of the candidate's qualifications. Candidate statements will be sent to each voter with the official ballot.
Duties and Anticipated Time Commitments
Official Duties
The official duties of Board members include, and are not limited to, the following:
- Preparation for and attendance at twelve regular monthly Board meetings
- Preparation for and attendance at six investment committee meetings
- Strategic workshops, typically in the spring and fall
- Board committees as assigned by the Board Chair
- Ad hoc committee meetings as assigned by the Board Chair
- Special Board meetings, if necessary
The meetings involve duties such as the selection and monitoring of investment managers, consideration of disability retirement applications, the review and adoption of actuarial studies and the general administration of the retirement system.
Time Commitment Related to Meetings
Regular Meetings
The Board generally holds its regular meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, except in May and November when the regular meeting is moved to the first Wednesday. Meetings begin at 9 AM unless otherwise posted, and generally end before 1 PM.
Special Meetings
From time to time, a “special meeting” of the Board may be convened on at least 24-hour notice.
Investment Committee Meetings
The Investment Committee generally meets every other month, one to two weeks after the regular monthly Board meeting. Meetings begin at 9 AM unless otherwise posted, and generally end before 1 PM.
Strategic Workshops
Board workshops are held in the spring and fall and are 1-2 days in length. The workshops generally focus on educational topics for the Board.
Time Commitment Related to Preparation and Education
Meeting Preparation
Board members should generally expect to spend three to four hours in preparation for Board and Committee meetings. For example, Board members are provided investment-related materials relevant to the administration of MCERA’s investments. Spending 1-3 hours per week reviewing such materials would not be unusual.
Training and Education
California law requires that MCERA Board members complete a minimum of 24 hours of education within two years of joining the Retirement Board and thereafter on a biannual basis. Ethics certification is mandated within one year of assuming office then once every two years, and Prevention of Sexual Harassment training is required within six months of assuming office then once every two years. Board members are also expected to complete training on the Brown Act (California’s open meetings law).
Board members may spend from 7-10 days, plus travel time, attending educational conferences and seminars each year. In addition, Board members who assume leadership positions in organizations that serve public pension funds typically spend several additional days on that work.
Frequently Asked Questions