In spring 2025, STRS Ohio will hold an election for three seats on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board, including two contributing seats and one retired seat, for the term beginning September 1, 2025, and ending August 31, 2029.
Rudy Fichtenbaum is running for re-election to the retired seat. Fichtenbaum was elected to the Board in 2021 and is currently serving his second term as Board Chair. He has requested to be included in ORTA's endorsement interview process, which will take place in early 2025.
The first step in the election process is for potential candidates to collect the required number of signatures to be placed on the ballot in spring 2025.
What should you do?
Print a copy of the petition. Electronic versions are not acceptable!
Sign the petition.
Include your permanent county of residence. This also applies to retired teachers living outside of Ohio.
Collect signatures from other retired Ohio teachers. Print multiple copies of the petition if necessary.
Send the petition(s) via USPS to the address listed on the petition.
Who can sign Fichtenbaum's nomination petition?
Retired members of STRS Ohio.
STRS Ohio retirees who are re-employed in an STRS Ohio covered position.
Who cannot sign Fichtenbaum's nomination petition?
Persons receiving disability benefits.
Persons receiving survivor benefits.
Nomination of a candidate must be made by petitions:
Signed by at least 500 retired teachers of the State Teachers Retirement System who
receive service retirement benefits.
AND
Containing the signatures of at least 20 retired teachers from each of at least 10 counties
wherein such retirees receiving service retirement benefits under the system reside.
The deadline for returning petitions is Feb. 28, 2025. STRS Ohio members will receive their ballots and voting information in April; they will have through May 5 to cast their vote. The winners of the election will begin their four-year term on the board on Sept. 1, 2025. Board members are not compensated for board service other than reimbursement for actual, necessary expenses.
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STRS Ohio Board member Rudy Fichtenbaum, and former Board member Wade Steen, are incurring legal fees, defending themselves against the lawsuit brought against them by A.G. Dave Yost. ORTA will use donations from the Pension Defense Fund to help them, if needed, pay their legal expenses. They have volunteered their time to support Ohio's teachers. Now it's time for us to show our support for them! Make a donation today to the ORTA Pension Defense Fund.